CLINTON — Regular visitors may notice some changes at the Van Buren County Farmers Market when it opens for the third year. The market begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 16, in the Clinton City Park.
Clinton is looking to the community of Leslie for a helping hand with the market.
“They contacted me this winter,” said Adrienne Lafargue, director of Ozark Mountain Market in Leslie. “They had some issues in Clinton, so we’re trying to make a push this year to really get [the market] up and running.”
Leslie market organizers had some help themselves three years ago when they started a farmers market. Their help was from the state.
Leslie was one of three communities involved in a program called Rural Community Alliance, funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. The project was a community revitalization effort aimed at areas that had lost their schools in consolidations.
“I was in the arts-and-heritage focus group,” Lafargue said. “One of the projects we started was the farmers market, because so much of our heritage is based in agriculture and farming and local crafts.”
Lafargue said that while some of the programs started and efforts made by Leslie as part of the Rural Community Alliance have halted or tapered off, the farmers market is still going strong.
The Van Buren County market will adopt the Leslie market’s rules.
This year, all produce, plants, crafts and other items sold are required to be grown or made in Arkansas. Prepared foods are required to have a label indicating they have been inspected or made by a licensed kitchen. Prices must be displayed clearly on each product, and the term “organic” may not be used without a valid certificate.
“We’re using the same rules in Clinton that we use here in Leslie,” Lafargue said.
Wendy Russ of Clinton said she hopes the changes make a difference.
“We are striving to create a farmers market that will thrive and help support our local community,” she said. “Our area has such a great body of talent and so many natural resources that there is no reason why we can’t have a booming market.”
Lafargue thinks Clinton’s budget for the market will make a difference. Although the Leslie market is run on a volunteer basis, the Van Buren County Farmers Market is funded by a city sales tax.
“It’s been awesome to work with an actual budget,” Lafargue said.
As director of the Van Buren County Farmers Market, she receives a small stipend for her efforts. However, once the initial legwork is done in preparing the market to open, Lafargue plans to turn over duties to her sister, Genevieve Pollard, who will manage the market.
“She will be on the ground as market supervisor,” Lafargue said. “We think the Clinton market has a lot of potential. I hope it’s successful. We’re going to do everything we can to get it there.”
Russ said the success or failure of the market will largely be up to the community, and she is optimistic.
“With the strengths, talents and resources of the people in our area, I believe wholeheartedly that we can create our own economy and not have to be subject to the economic roller-coaster rides happening outside our area,” she said.
Beginning April 16, the market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon every other Saturday through September. For more information, e-mail vbcmarket@yahoo.com.
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