A new farmers market is starting in De Soto on Tuesday.
Anna Hearst, owner of Madd Heifer home decor/gift store at 215B E. Main St., is starting a farmers market from 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays with local produce and food vendors. The market will be called The Madd Market.
“I want the community to have an extra day to (shop for local produce) if they can’t make it out to (the De Soto) Farmers Market on Saturday,” she said. “The Arlington Event Center (next door at 207 E. Main St.) is letting us use their patio.”
Hearst hopes to have eight to 10 vendors each Tuesday, selling products such as locally grown produce and meat, fresh flowers and homemade baked goods. She originally hoped to have it on Friday evenings, but she found that Tuesday was a better day for the local vendors.
“It will be run like a farmers market,” she said. “I’m just doing it for the community. I’m not making a profit. My only profit would be if someone comes in the store and buys something.”
Hearst said she will change her store hours on Tuesdays to 2-8 p.m.
“A lot of people work 9-5 jobs, and this is just an extra opportunity to (buy local produce),” she said, adding that the local produce stand closed earlier this year.
Since the produce is locally grown, the fruits and vegetables will be seasonal and there may be times when there is no fruit sold.
Heart said the farmers market season will be the same as the De Soto Farmers Market, 520 N. Main St., opening in May and ending in late October. The De Soto Farmers Market, operated by Get Healthy De Soto, is open on Saturday mornings, offering an assortment of locally-grown produce and locally-made goods and crafts. The Madd Market will not have crafts.
Hearst said some of Madd Market’s regular vendors will include Julie’s Produce, Pierce Century Farm, Aunt Bee’s Pantry, Plants and Things, Sweet Obsessions, the Confectionery Express and Chapel House Farm. She said she also hopes to have a melon vendor with watermelons and cantaloupes from the Bootheel.
For more information, call 636-208-9830, email madd.heifer@outlook.com or visit The Madd Market on Facebook.