Another year for farmer’s market
Posted By J.T. on June 4, 2009
from the Pleasant Hill Times:
“Our farmer’s market will be open for business at 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, in downtown Pleasant Hill downtown at First and Wyoming streets,” says market organizer and manager Lori Kays.
Vendors will be on hand to sell garden produce, honey, crafts, hanging baskets, bedding plants, pepper plants at 25 cents each and more.
The Amazing Grace Lutheran Church ladies will have their fresh baked goods. “The unusual weather conditions this spring have made it difficult on the gardeners to promise many of the vegetables which would normally be ready by the first of June,” says Lori.
Larry Kosfeld and LizAnne Smothers—who operate as L&L Growers—agree that the weather has not been kind to the gardeners this spring.
“It’s been a year of planting and then re-planting,” says Larry.
Nevertheless, they expect to have leaf lettuce and peas for sale on opening day in addition to bedding plants and vegetable plants. Larry says he started gardening as a hobby.
“My mother had always gardened and I used to help her,” When he was working full time, he used gardening as a type of relaxation therapy.
When the plants started producing, he would have more than his family could use so he would share the excess with friends.
Since his retirement, Larry is still enjoying gardening, but it has become a business. He admits it is sometimes overwhelming to keep up with his new business, but he says it keeps him out of trouble.
Larry’s partner, LizAnne, also grew up in a family that depended on what they grew in the garden.
“We didn’t buy anything we could grow,” she said. “My mother always canned enough tomatoes and other vegetables to see the family through the winter.”
She agrees with Larry that gardening can be relaxing, but it does require a lot of planning and a lot of work.
As early as Valentine’s Day, LizAnne and Larry were planting pepper and tomato seeds in the greenhouse. They have sold a lot of their young plants, but still have plenty to produce vegetables for the market and for LizAnne’s own canning projects.
L&L Growers also participates in another community farmers market which started in April in nearby Lee’s Summit.
They are part of the Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA) that allows people to purchase their produce on a subscription plan.
They both enjoy the social aspect of the market. They are looking forward to seeing old friends when the Pleaswant Hill market opens on Saturday.
People like buying fresh produce, and they are comfortable buying from area gardeners.
“They know they can trust us to have fresh merchandise,” says Larry. “We pick our produce the night before.”
Larry has observed that the general buying crowd want the traditional vegetables and aren’t often interested in trying something new or different.
Last summer, he had trouble selling a variety of purple beans when his customers were looking for simple green beans. His idea was that they were still beans.
Fellow gardener Kim Burris found that his shitake mushrooms sold better when he provided recipes and talked with the customers about preparation. Sometimes the vendor’s efforts to educate his consumers can pay off.
Both Larry and LizAnne have been involved in the Pleasant Hill farmer’s market since its beginning.
“There has been growth, but I would like to see more vendors involved and more customers coming downtown on Saturday mornings to check us out,” says LizAnne.
She suggests that area people could develop a “Do Downtown Pleasant Hill” adventure for Saturday mornings. There are restaurants offering a variety of menu choices and several stores within walking distance.
These shops have a wide selection of merchandise; items which would make nice gifts or a treat for the shopper.
Lori is happy that the market has grown, but would like to see more dedicated vendors with a commitment to be there every week “I’m hoping that as more people learn about the market, more local gardeners and growers will decide to participate, “ she said.
Lori is constantly looking for more vendors. She would like to have more vendors selling strawberries, peaches, apples and other fruit.
She has suggested that local organizations or individuals consider participating in the market, too.
“Our customers get very excited about homemade bread, and they miss it when it’s not there!” she said.
Lori welcomes comments on the market. Send suggestions to phillfarmersmarket@yahoo.com or call Lori at 256-8889.
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