This week’s trip is one of the farthest I will do this year. By the time we got home we were in three states, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas, for a total of 636 miles and 15 hours. I always take a little company with me on this trip just in case I need a relief driver so Deb Churchill, Property Manager for the City Market volunteered.

We started by working our way south on 71 highway to Carthage, Mo to visit Craig Hansen, Hillside Farms. Craig has one crop, elephant garlic, and has spent much time researching the best growing method for garlic and after much trial and error produces a wonderful product. The garlic is planted in the fall using compose that he starts in the spring and makes out of turkey manure and wood-chips, I was surprised it did not have a bad odor. (Yes I smelled it!) This year’s crop is almost ready to harvest. Once the garlic is harvested the tops are cut off and the outer skin is peeled away to allow the bulb to dry. This process is always done with gloves since the garlic oil can burn your skin after handling the bulbs for prolonged periods of time. The drying process is done on large specially designed racks with multiple fans operating at all time to keep the air circulating. If all goes well Craig plans to be back at the Market on Saturday July 5^th. Craig’s stalls are located in the 2^nd farmers shed space 89. 

We continued south on highway 71 to Seneca, Missouri. Seneca is home to the Lee Family who have been vendors at the City Market for seven years. They are farming three locations this year, like many of our farmers they are expanding. In addition to the fields next to their home they have a field about a mile away and another near Freeman, Mo.   The Lee family grows a variety of eggplants which range in size, shape, color and flavor, a few I have never seen before. As always their field looked good. I am always amazed by the amount of rock they have to work around in the fields. You will find them at the Market every Saturday, up to the first frost, in pavilion three stalls 116 – 118.

  

Our next stop is Anderson ,Missouri which is a small town located on hwy 59. The Xiong family farm location makes me happy that we now have 4 wheel drive on the markets truck. The farm is located down a rocky lane, we had to stop and open a gate which is in place to keep in the cows, drive through the field and through another gate to reach the farm.  Nhia and daughter showed us through the fields pointing out many unique items they sell to various ethnic shoppers at the market. Some are used in salads, stir-fry’s, and for seasoning; many of which are very bitter and definitely an acquired taste. The purple peas where very beautiful and a favorite with many of the Markets’ early morning shoppers. These peas are not meant to be eaten raw since they are very bitter, but once cooked they are delicious. The Xiong’s have started farming a new section of land since we visited last year; they are farming approximately 6 acres with no more than 4 or 5 people to help.  Nhia is always looking for a new item to introduce to his customers a few I was not familiar with was chayote, moringa and dinosaur kale. The Xiong’s are at the Market every Saturday in pavilion two stalls 84-86.

After leaving Anderson we headed farther south to Summers, AR to the farm of Mainhia Moua, who happens to be Nhia Xiong's cousin. We found Mainhia and her husband busy in the field trying to finish up before a fast approaching rain storm hit. Their farm was beautiful with very few weeds, I was really impressed since they have had a lot of rain and heat, just what weeds like. Mainhia graciously showed us through her fields. The brussels sprouts would be ready soon, what a cool plant. They also were growing purple sweet potatoes, assorted peppers, beets, flowers and much more. The rain started to come in heavy so we ran for the truck. I hope we will see them at the Sunday Market soon but I would be a little surprised since it is at least a four hour drive to Kansas City.

Back in the truck we head NE to Springfield, Missouri. Deb and I wanted to visit the Farmers Market of the Ozarks Thursday evening market. This market is about two years old and is part of a brand new shopping center. Basically the shopping center was built with the farmers market in mind. This market is managed by Lane McConnel and was fairly busy for a week night. We looked like such tourist walking around taking pictures. I love to visit other farmer markets but never really am able to. There is another farmers market in Springfield, the Greater Springfield Farmers Market. Their Thursday market ended at noon so we were not able to get there on time.

We grabbed a quick dinner and headed home. We had a long day but I always enjoy visiting with the vendors away from the hustle of the Market. Next week I will be going solo and heading north of the river.