Area shoppers itching to buy some farm-grown produce and locally handcrafted items will soon have the chance.
Most of the 10 farmers markets in the area will open for the season during the first week of May, although the Arnold Famers Market will have a soft opening from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 29.
The Arnold Farmers Market, located near the entrance of Arnold City Park on Bradley Beach Road off Jeffco Boulevard, will hold its grand opening for the same time on Saturday, May 6.
In addition, the De Soto Farmers Market will hold its annual Tractor Parade, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, near the market, 520 N. Main St., and will provide information about the market that day. However, the De Soto Farmers Market will not open for the season until May 6.
The Herculaneum Farmers Market will be the first one in Jefferson County to officially open for the season. Its first market day will be held 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at 776 Joachim Ave.
Two more Jefferson County markets will open on May 6 – the Cedar Hill Farmers and Vendors Market at 1 Lynn Lane and the Peace Pantry Cedar Hill Farmers and Flea Market at 8100 S. Industrial Drive.
The Hillsboro Farmers Market opens on May 10 at 200 Bridle Ridge Lane, and the Fenton Community and Farmers Market will resume operations on May 18 at 995 Larking Williams Road.
On Sunday, May 21, the Crystal City Farmers Market opens for the season at 105 Bailey Road.
The Wildwood Farmers Market begins on May 27 at 221 Plaza Drive.
The Route 66 Market will not operate on a regular schedule in Eureka, but is expected to be open on four dates in Pacific.
Here is a look at what area markets have in store for this season:
Arnold
The Arnold Famers Market isn’t just opening a week earlier than usual, it also will remain open two weeks later.
Markets will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from April 29 through Nov. 11. In the past, the market was held from the first Saturday in May to the third Saturday of October, market master Teresa Kohut said.
“We found we were cutting our farmers off because they still had produce to sell,” she said. “That just killed me. We have the market to accommodate the growing season, and we found the growing season is longer than we originally anticipated.”
Kohut said each market typically has 50 vendors and between 1,000 and 1,500 customers each Saturday.
“I feel blessed to be supported by the city, the Parks Department and (Mayor Ron Counts) and his wife, Gaye,” she said. “That has enabled me to move forward with the growth of the market. It is exciting.”
Kohut said along with numerous returning farmers, craft makers and food vendors, the market will include new vendors, including a food vendor who serves gyros and the return of an oven-baked pizza vendor this season.
She also said there will be a Strawberry Festival on May 20, Country Days and a Tractor Show on June 24, a Peach Festival on July 16, a Salsa Festival on Aug. 6, an Apple Festival on Sept. 9 and a Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 21.
“It is going to be a great season,” said Kohut, also the Arnold Parks and Recreation Department’s superintendent. “We have more farms coming on, and there will be more flower vendors this year as well. “
Kohut said the market raised $13,655 during the 2022 market season for the city.
The Arnold Farmers Market also holds winter markets during the off months. Kohut said the city will hold winter markets on Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10 and March 9.
For more information, call 636-282-6686, email arnoldfarmersmarket@gmail.com, go to the market’s page on arnoldmo.org or to its Facebook page.
Cedar Hill
Two farmers markets operate in Cedar Hill.
The Cedar Hill Farmers and Vendors Market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays from May 6 through Oct. 28 at the Big River VFW Post 5331, 1 Lynn Lane.
The Peace Pantry Cedar Hill Farmers and Flea Market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays from May 6 through Oct. 21 at 8100 S. Industrial Drive.
Marilyn Enslow, the Cedar Hill Farmers and Vendors Market manager, said last year’s market went great, and she is looking forward to another good season.
“For most of last year, we had a good bunch of vendors,” she said. “We had 20 to 30 vendors every week. We will likely average 25 vendors this year.”
Enslow said she will likely add a beef vendor and a pork vendor to this year’s market, which also includes vendors who sell eggs, produce, honey, baked goods, crafts and some direct-sale items.
She said members of the VFW sell food during each market, and all of the money collected for booth rentals goes to the VFW to support the group and its programs.
“I think it will be a really good season,” Enslow said. “I look forward to having some new vendors and building the market.”
For more information, go to the Cedar Hill Farmers and Vendors Market Facebook page or email auntiemern@yahoo.com.
Michaella March, one of the market masters for the Peace Pantry Cedar Hill Farmers and Flea Market, said the market has cut back to twice a month to accommodate vendors’ and shoppers’ schedules.
“Last year, the last weekend of the month it was extremely slow,” she said. “This will give vendors a chance to refresh their stock or circulate what they have to give customers a fresh look when they come in.”
March said she anticipated having 33 vendors inside the Peace Pantry’s building for each market, and there is room for additional vendors to set up outside the building.
She said the first Saturday of each month will likely be busy because of the Peace Pantry’s thrift store’s $2 bag sale day.
“That is when customers may fill up a brown paper bag with clothes for $2, so there is a big influx of customers in the thrift store and they are told about the Farmers Market next door,” March said. “The first Saturday is a big traffic day.”
For more information about the Peace Pantry Cedar Hill Farmers and Flea Market call 636-285-0934 or go to the market’s Facebook page.
Crystal City
The Crystal City Farmers Market returns to Grace Presbyterian Church, 105 Bailey Road, for a third season. It will be open from 1-5 p.m. on Sundays from May 21 through Oct. 15, except for holiday weekends.
Amy Dickemper, who organizes the market, said typically eight to 10 vendors and between 75 and 100 shoppers participate in each market.
“We are hoping to grow more this year,” she said.
Dickemper said many vendors are expected to return to the market this year to sell produce, meats, honey, plants, crafts and baked goods. She also said representatives from The Project – For His Families, located at 721 Mississippi Ave., in Crystal City, often come to markets to provide activities for children and inform customers about various community service opportunities.
To encourage children who are high school age and younger to test entrepreneurial waters, fees are waived for them to rent spots at the market.
“I want to encourage any community children who want to come out to sell a craft, produce or whatever,” Dickemper said.
For more information about the market, email crystalcityfarmers@gmail.com or go to ccfarmersmarket.com or the market’s Facebook page.
De Soto
The market, which Get Healthy De Soto operates, will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from May 6 through Oct. 28 at 520 N. Main St.
Market manager Dawna Watkins said the Tractor Parade on Saturday, April 29, will give people the opportunity to learn about the EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) program, POP (Power of Produce) Club and kids market.
“We are excited about this season,” she said. “Our parade theme is ‘Come grow with us.’ We hope the Farmers Market continues to grow and be a vital part of the community.”
POP is open to children between the ages of 4 and 12 and requires registration. The club provides activities for children during the market, and each child receives $2 to spend on produce at a market.
Kids markets will be held the third Saturday of every month, and it allows children 16 years old and younger to sell items at the market. In order to sell during the kids markets, children need to attend one orientation class at 1 p.m. April 22 or April 29 or 6 p.m. April 25 at the market.
“Those programs help us get kids involved in the Farmers Market so they learn how to be entrepreneurs and they get a source for local healthy food,” Watkins said.
She said each market has an average of 20 vendors and more than 380 shoppers.
At 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month area chefs, nutritionists and vendors will provide cooking demonstrations in the market’s commercial kitchen, she added.
“It is something we want to provide to show the health benefits of buying fresh produce and showing people all the things they can cook that they buy at the market,” Watkins said.
She said Get Healthy De Soto resurfaced asphalt areas near the kitchen building and bandstand area, using funds from a Jefferson Foundation grant.
“It makes for safer parking spaces and a better surface to watch musical acts perform,” Watkins said.
The market will hold its annual farm-to-table fundraising dinner from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 16. Watkins said the cost for the dinner has not been set and will be announced later during the season.
“We sold 120 tickets last year,” she said. “We would like to sell 200 tickets.”
For more information about the market, call 636-543-0966 or go to gethealthydesoto.org or the market’s Facebook page.
Fenton
A farmers market returns to the city of Fenton after a hiatus last year.
The Fenton Community and Farmers Market will be held on a new day and at a new location, operating from 4-8 p.m. on Thursdays from May 18 through Sept. 28 at the Meramec Greenway Shelter, 995 Larking Williams Road, on the south edge of Fenton City Park. The previous incarnation was called the Olde Towne Fenton Farmers Markets and was held on Saturdays at 200 Gravois Road.
Market manager Laura DeWeese said there were two reasons to change the day the market is held.
“Vendors who already sell at other markets should be free to sell at our markets,” she said. “For shoppers, if you are getting ready for the weekend, wouldn’t you rather get your stuff on Thursday evening instead of scrambling on Saturday morning?”
She also said the new location will be perfect for the market.
“It is beautiful,” DeWeese said. “There is more parking, and there is a restroom.”
DeWeese said this is her first time operating a farmers market, and she hopes to have at least 20 vendors every Thursday.
She said she has been researching how to operate a market, along with networking and advertising the return of the market.
“I have been very active on social media,” she said. “I took over the Facebook page and created an Instagram page. I also updated a lot of the online directories and changed our location on Google maps and Yelp. I have handed out flyers every chance I get and joined a lot of social media groups that have to do with Fenton or local food sources.”
For more information, call 636-349-8155, email farmersmarket@fentonmo.org or go to the Parks and Recreation Department page at fentonmo.org or the market’s Facebook page.
Herculaneum
The Herculaneum Farmers Market will be open from 3-6 p.m. on Tuesdays from May 2 through Sept. 26 at Herculaneum City Park, 776 Joachim Ave.
Market manager Rena Klahs said the market will not be open into October because last year the later markets were not as well attended.
Typically eight to 10 vendors are at each market, and she hopes to grow the number of vendors who come each week, she said.
“We grew last year, but we did lose a popular vendor who opened up her own shop,” Klahs said. “It (being a vendor) is a good way to gain experience before making a big commitment of opening a bakery or restaurant.”
Klahs said she will ask shoppers for their opinions about the market this season, and she is offering an incentive for people to share their thoughts.
“I will have a customer survey available through the first month of the season,” she said. “I plan to have a drawing during the final market of May and give away a certain amount of market money the winner will be able to spend in the market.”
The market will be set up in the main area of the park away from the popular Kade’s Playground to allow both attractions to have plenty of space.
“I think it is really nice,” Klahs said. “It is cooler on the grass than on the gravel near the playground. We closed a small road near it, so no cars can be on it during the market.”
Klahs said the market will have a new honey vendor this season with Dale’s Bees committed to being at the market through May. She also said popular returning vendors include Valley View Gardens, Pierce Century Farm, Sandcrest Haven Farm, PlantsNThingsByChris and Cooking in Gerri’s Kitchen, who sells Pampered Chef products.
“I’m very much looking forward to the season,” Klahs said. “I personally will sell plants and things along with what I normally do. We will continue to try to grow and expand.”
For more information call 636-282-8366, email herkymarket@gmail.com or go to the market’s Facebook page.
Hillsboro
The Hillsboro Farmers Market will be held from 3:30-6 p.m. on Wednesdays from May 10 through Oct. 18. It is returning to the Hillsboro R-3 School District’s Bridle Ridge Acres, 200 Bridle Ridge Lane, after making a move to that location from the Hillsboro Community Civic Club last year.
“It went very well,” market master Carmelita Davidson said. “It was easier for the vendors to set up at the market, and it was easier for customers to come to the market because it is a paved parking lot instead of gravel.”
Davidson said markets may feature up to 12 vendors, who come from a 75-mile radius. She said she is not sure how many customers attend each market, but the number of shoppers typically is larger when school is in session.
“During the school year, we have a number of parents and teachers come through the market,” she said.
Davidson also said customers may place orders with vendors during markets to pick up products at the following week’s market.
“That helps the vendor know how much product to bring, and it is convenient for the customer to have it waiting for them at the market,” she said.
Davidson said there will be a music act performing on the first day of the market, and there will be new produce vendors at this season’s markets.
She said she is looking forward to having the University of Missouri Extension’s Fender Blender Bike at this year’s market.
“It is a bicycle that you make smoothies with,” Davidson.
For more information, call 314-650-3830 or 636-262-0725, email chamberoffice@sbcglobal.net or go to the market’s Facebook page.
Route 66 Markets
Organizer Erica Trtan said the Route 66 Markets will not have set dates in Eureka at 54 Legends Parkway in the Legends Plaza like in the past, but she hopes to have a few pop-up markets at that spot during the season.
“Unfortunately, with the low turnout last year, we were unable to attract vendors for a market this year,” she said.
Route 66 Markets will, however, return to Pacific as part of the Sunset on the Rails concert series this summer at Pacific Station Plaza, 216 S. First St. The concert series and market will be open from 7-10 p.m. June 9, July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 8.
“I have a lot of vendors who are interested, but the number of vendors at each concert will vary,” Trtan said. “We have vendors who sell produce, jam, honey and tamales and tacos.
“We love going to these events. We think it is a good time. We enjoy the people coming out and the music.”
For information about Route 66 Markets call 1-888-838-3689, email route66markets@gmail.com or go to the market’s Facebook page. For information about Sunset on the Rails go to the events page at pacificmo.org.
Wildwood
The Wildwood Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from May 27 through Oct. 7 at 221 Plaza Drive. A market will not be held on Sept. 23 during Celebrate Wildwood.
The market typically features between 25 and 30 vendors and attracts about 500 shoppers, market manager Natalie McAvoy said.
She said the city is in the planning stages for two events to be held at the markets this year.
“We plan to have a market where there will be a kids section that will include things like kids yoga, and we want to have a Wildwood business day,” McAvoy said. “We haven’t set dates for these things yet, but those dates will be posted on our website and Facebook page.”
McAvoy said popular food vendors such as the Tamale Man and Yogi Donuts and produce vendors from Farrar Out Farm, Stuart Farm, Rosy Buck Farm and Micro Meadows are expected to be at the markets.
“I’m so excited with the vendors who are coming back and organizing two new things,” she said. “We have been getting better every year. We keep improving, and that is great.”
For more information, call 636-346-3549 or go to the Parks and Recreation Department page at cityofwildwood.com or the market’s Facebook page.