THREE RIVERS AREA — What is the difference between a farmers market and a peddlers market?
Farmer Barbara Armstrong said there’s a big difference. She is the manager of the Searcy and North Little Rock markets.
Armstrong owns Armstrong Beefalo Farm in El Paso, and she and a group of farmers broke away from a larger market that she said became a peddlers market, and they formed the Certified Arkansas Farmers Markets in Searcy and North Little Rock. CAFM is a network of fairtrade outdoor and online markets created and managed by local farmers, and everything sold at the markets is grown or produced in Arkansas.
To be CAFM certified, farmers must have 100 percent of their products grown by them in Arkansas. Each farmer who participates in the market must go through an inspection and meet the CAFM guidelines.
Buying locally grown produce and locally producedmeat, milk and eggs helps support smaller farms.
“You know where your food comes from,” Armstrong said about the benefits of buying directly from growers. “You’re making connections with the farmers, and most of our farmers are going the organic route.”
Another benefit of the Searcy Farmers Market is that market executive chef Lewis Curtis is there from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday for those who may have trouble visualizing how to cook fresh asparagus or what to do with rhubarb. Curtis demonstrates, teaches and creates recipes to help consumers incorporate fresh ingredients that are available at the market. Curtis is also the executive chef at Lulav in Little Rock.
“There are so many people who don’t cook anymore,” Armstrong said about the benefit of having a chef on hand. “Buying local helps support the small farmers.”
The Searcy market is at the south end of Spring Park just off Main Street; the North Little Rock market is on Sixth and Main streets in the Argenta area.
Armstrong is also part of the Foodshed Farm All Arkansas Basket-a-Month Program. This community-supported agriculture program brings the bounty of Arkansas farms to consumers yearround, in one convenient monthly delivery. ServingLittle Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Hot Springs Village and Searcy, volunteers bring a refrigerated truck filled with fresh milk, eggs, fruit, cheese, vegetables, recipes and much more. To find out more or toenroll in the Basket-a-Month Program, visit ArkansasFood.net.
The Stone County Farmers Market is also a Certified Arkansas Farmers Markets member and is moving to a new location.
“We’re making a big move downtown this season and will be located just off the Square at Centennial Bank Park [121 Main St. in Mountain View],” market manager Beverly Dunaway said. “Last year we had 19 vendors that were a mixture of full-season and day vendors. Our products include produce, plants and herbs; baked goods; country eggs; other value-added food products; and vendor crafts.”
The Stone County Market is open from 8 a.m. noon Saturdays, but as soon as harvesting is in full swing, the market will expand to 7-11 a.m. Wednesdays.
“Some of our vendors may appear at the market site informally on Wednesdays if they need to sell more produce during one of these early weeks,” Dunaway said. “Saturday is still the only official market day we’ve announced so far. Our grand opening will take place on June 12.Centennial Bank will be on hand flipping burgers while musicians jam in the park and numerous other activities take place - all to be announced soon.”
Learn more about the Stone County Farmers Market at stonecountyfarmersmarket.com.
- jbrosius@ arkansasonline.com
Three Rivers, Pages 119 on 05/23/2010