Are you not satisfied with the produce provided at your nearest grocery store this season? Don’t worry, as there are plenty of places to get fresh produce in the Columbia area: farmers markets.
Farmers markets provide consumers with the chance to engage with the farmers who grow their food while still getting fresh quality produce. There are three farmers markets in the Columbia area: The Farmers and Artisans Market, the Boone County Farmers Market and the Columbia Farmers Market.
Located in the parking lot of the Wabash Bus Station at 126 N. Tenth St., the Farmers and Artisans Market provides all the fresh, seasonal produce you can imagine, including squash, cucumbers and carrots. The market also has vendors that sell kitchen commodities such as honey, beef, pasta and eggs.
Not only does this market have produce vendors, it also features product vendors.
“We have an eclectic mix of artisan products,” says Haley Schwarz, marketing director for the Farmers and Artisans Market.
These artists specialize in making jewelry, pottery and even photography.
“We have vendors that sell crocheted hats and scarves for cooler temperatures,” she says. “We have additional vendors who make wooden bowls and bracelets as well as glass blown jewelry and unique stone jewels.”
On top of the accessories and apparel, the Farmers and Artisans Market has three food trucks that use ingredients from local vendors: The Ozark Mountain Biscuit Co. (which has a highly recommended southern fried tomato dish), Sunflower Waffle and CoMo Dough. (Schwarz counts the Margarita pizza from CoMo Dough as her favorite dish from the market’s vendors.)
“Our market provides a relaxing atmosphere on Sunday mornings for patrons to get a cup of coffee and grab some groceries, purchase art, or listen to music,” Schwarz says. “We like the idea of creating community in the North Village Arts District.”
Every weekend, the Farmers and Artisans Market has free events for adults and children. A memorable one for Schwarz was the “Seed Swap,” when people brought their plants from home and switched them out for others they wanted at the market.
The market’s last day of the season is Oct. 26, when it will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Located on the corner of Worley Street and West Boulevard in the parking lot of the Sanford-Kimpton Health Department building is the Boone County Farmers Market, which runs Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon through October. Featuring both summer and fall crops, the Boone County Farmers Market has been centrally focused on its farmer background since it opened in 2003.
“Many of our vendors are full-time farmers with agricultural backgrounds,” says market President and Director Steven Sapp. “They’re not weekend farmers. We pride ourselves (in) being a farmer-led market.”
Sapp has grown up in farmers markets and has been working in them since 1980.
“Vendors come from Boone and adjoining counties,” he says. “They’re not from very far away.”
Providing a family-oriented atmosphere and a place of commerce to sell easily accessible produce are the goals of the Boone County Farmers Market.
Lastly, the Columbia Farmer’s Market has both weekday and weekend markets. Wednesday markets are from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Activity and Recreation Center on Ash Street, and Thursday markets are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Forum Christian Church on Forum Boulevard.
The Saturday market runs from 8 a.m. to noon at the ARC and goes until late October. There’s also a winter market that runs from November to March on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon inside Parkade Center, 601 West Business Loop.