A new farmers market will launch Tuesday with an array of produce, baked goods and meat.
Vendors from De Soto, Edgerton, Baldwin City, Ottawa and Eudora will be present at the first market put on by the city.
From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, residents will have the chance to shop at the space at Village Green next to the Community Center. There will cornhole, giant Jenga and other lawn games for families, as well as face painting and balloon art.
The city announced earlier this year that it would look into this project. Officials decided to start in September to see how it goes in the community to prepare for a whole season of markets next year.
Jamie Knabe of Country Road Farms is looking forward to this trial run of the market and has been a proponent for a market in the area previously.
“I think any time that we can offer consumers fresh local products, it’s always a good thing,” she said.
Knabe said people only know if a Eudora market is sustainable by trying it out. She is glad vendors can get their feet wet with the three markets this year.
“I hope people take the time to give it a chance and come and support us who put a lot of hard work into it,” she said.
She’ll have fresh meat, eggs, summer sausage and beef snack sticks.
Melissa Noel of De Soto just passed the first anniversary of her company becoming official, but her family has been raising their own animals for a few years, she said.
Noel Farms will be at the market as a way to sell goods while supporting a market in a smaller city.
“I think it’s really cool that Eudora is trying to get something going,” she said. “I’d love to be able to help bring customers in to support that.”
Noel will have cage-free chicken and pasture-raised hogs and pork and eggs. They also sell lard and tallow rendered from their animals. She will also have some skincare products, organic deodorant, moisturizer, sugar scrubs and chapstick that she makes from the tallow.
Baldwin City residents Brian and Crystal Glenn are new business owners as of June, crafting no-concentrate freshly squeezed lemonades. They’ve already traveled to other markets, a swap and shop, a drive-in movie theater and a motorcycle rally, but are looking forward to expanding to Eudora.
Brian Glenn had the idea to start a lemonade business, and Crystal always wanted a food truck, so this is just the beginning of their journey. One day she hopes to make Southern food as well.
For now, The Silly Squeezers will sell all kinds of citrus lemonades, like orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit. They will also have a sugar alternative and puree mix-ins or sweet cream to make a dreamsickle drink.
Since they are new to being a vendor, Crystal Glenn said she is looking forward to meeting others at the market.
“It’s pretty exciting, actually. I think all little towns should have markets like this. It’s helpful for the community,” she said.
She said their ultimate goal is to “squeeze to please” and make the community happy with their creations.
Bathrooms inside the Community Center will be available for market-goers, and parking is available, as well. The city reminded people to avoid parking on Elm Street.
The following markets will be at the same 5:30 to 8 p.m. time Sept. 17 and Sept. 24.
Here are the other vendors:
Katrina Gavala of Zelda’s Cafe – Cookies, cinnamon rolls, muffins
Cari Werner of Hawk ‘n Cat Farm LLC – Honey, eggs, pasture-raised poultry, vegetables, cat/dog treats
Laurel Eastling of Tree Line Creations LLC – Herbal products, tinctures
Steve Bowlin of Bowlin Farms LLC – Vegetables, fruits, honey, processed foods
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
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