Last week I visited three new vendors who submitted applications this year. I hope that all three will be selling at the Wednesday “Mini Market”. The “Mimi Market hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. which is the perfect time to shop, purchase some lunch from our many wonderful restaurants and sit under the middle pavilion and enjoy the day.

 

I started the day off at Adams Orac Farm, which is located in Independence, MO in an area that was totally new to me. Kathy and Joel have a 61/4 acre farm, of which, 3 acres contain various fruit trees, most of which are native varieties. I spent at least an hour walking through their fields as Kathy pointed out the various fruit trees and bushes such as paw-paw, elderberry, gooseberry, cherry, peach, Aronia berries (chokeberries) and nectarines to name only a few. I can’t wait until they start bringing these wonderful varieties to the Market.

I was very happy to see their chickens and ducks since we do not have very many vendors who have eggs for sale on Sundays or Wednesdays, especially not duck eggs. I had so much fun seeing all of their animals especially the day old twin goats that were oh so cute and the 6-week-old lambs Susie and Zowie. The lambs were quite the escape artist taking turns squeezing out of the fence.

The Adams have been able to grow produce all winter in their high-tunnel so already have broccoli, beets, cabbage, lettuce and radishes to bring to the market. They also have a wonderful selection of herbs and vegetable plants, which may be purchased with the markets SNAP and DUFB tokens.

Kathy and Joel will be at the City Market on Sundays and Wednesdays throughout the summer and probably into the fall.

Next, I cut back through the city and visited Juniper Gardens located in Kansas City, Kansas. Van Nei Sue is part of the Catholic Charities New Roots for Refugees program. www.catholiccharities.com  After walking through the entire garden, which was wonderful, I discovered that Van Nei Sue had graduated early from the program and now grows vegetables on her own farm. I will arrange a visit to her new location in a couple weeks but I am not too worried since all the graduates of the program grow beautiful vegetables.  

My last stop for the day is also in Kansas City Kansas at the large backyard garden of San Win and his family. The garden was immaculate and all the vegetables looked beautiful. Like most of our vendors this year, it was impossible to get crops planted in April due to the unseasonal cold weather. San Win’s vegetables were running about two weeks behind but should be ready very soon. San Win Garden will more than likely be selling at the Wednesday Market in the near future.

Our days in the office are always very busy so Ajani Nosakhere, Assistant Farmers Market Manager, visited a new artist/crafter vendor on her way home from work. Kal Bielawski is also a new vendor that will be selling at the Wednesday farmers market. Kal makes DIY Face Masks Kits and all natural pillow sprays. I probably need both of these items after a busy weekend at the Market. Vendors in the Artist /Crafter category must make the items and sell the items themselves. Natrillo is the name of Kal’s business and his product is very nice. 

Please visit the market on Wednesday and help support these wonderful new vendors.