Farmers' Market continues growth

Monday, August 17, 2009
Vendors filled the north side of the Greencastle Courthouse square Saturday, as the Greencastle Downtown Farmers' Market set a record with 22 farmers and artisans.

GREENCASTLE -- The Greencastle Downtown Farmers' Market filled Franklin Street on Saturday with a second consecutive record number of 22 farmers and artisans offering a variety of locally grown or made produce and goods.

As the Indiana harvest reaches its peak, farmers' market shoppers are finding a diversity of fresh, local produce featuring sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, beets, zucchini, cucumbers, basil and other vegetables and herbs. Fresh-baked pies and bread, breakfast wraps, colorful flower arrangements, and hand-painted antiques are also to be found in the market's stands.

Aside from the appeal of these distinctively local goods and the fresh food's great taste and nutritional value, the market benefits the local economy as purchasing dollars go directly to our own community's farmers and producers.

The Downtown Farmers' Market also provides a cultural value in featuring local musicians each week. While the band Saturday Shoes' vocalist Rick Barcus performed Saturday, previous markets have included cellist Eric Edberg, jazz saxophonist Randy Salman, and folk guitar players Doug Cox, Ron Dye, and Mary Michael. The August 15 featured musician is Anthony Mullis.

The growth of the Downtown Farmers' Market is an outcome recommended in the Sustainable Greencastle Report created by a focus group of local citizens that Mayor Sue Murray hosted in the spring. The Friends of the Farmers' Market, led by Greencastle Sustainability Commission member Cathryn Ensley, has organized the market and promoted a "meet at the market" campaign this summer.

The Downtown Farmers' Market will occur from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through Oct. 31.

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