This is a monumental year for the oldest farmer’s market in Kansas, that’s right the Lawrence Farmer’s Market is the grand daddy of them all and this year they are turning 30!  What a privilege to be able to amble downtown and purchase vine-ripened tomatoes, free-range bison and a few zucchini all while listening to a little toe-tapping music and catching up with friends, neighbors and area farmers.  The Lawrence community has supported regional farmers longer than anyone in our state and because of the enormous popularity of the market, big changes are taking place.  The Saturday market is moving.  Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, the Lawrence Farmer’s Market Coordinator, explains, “Our enthusiasm about the Saturday move is tremendous; we finally have stalls for new vendors and abundant parking for patrons.  We are jumping from 65 to 102 stalls and the larger location is allowing the market to add new amenities such as a dining area.”

An address change is not the only difference the New Hampshire space provides.  The market will now have room for a few other additions like ten picnic tables to sit and enjoy a hot cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee, there will be two band areas instead of one playing everything from bluegrass to classical violin, a booth to house the area Master Gardeners and Master Foods volunteers who will espouse their expertise through demonstrations and presentations, a stall for regional non-for-profit groups will be available to aid our community in making a difference and will rotate with various causes. Gleaners’ Gathering is a way to keep Lawrence food banks full, Taylor-Puckett explains, “This stall permits shoppers to donate non-perishable food as well as produce purchased at the market to the hungry.  The dedication of this stall really cements our steadfastness to avoiding waste.  After all, nothing breaks a farmer’s heart like throwing perfectly good food on the compost pile- especially when there are hungry people in our community.”  A weekly e-newsletter has been added to the Lawrence Farmer’s Market arsenal keeping patrons aware of special activities, promotions, the products available.  Readers can also expect to enjoy recipes offered and the monthly “Market Meal” which will have a seasonal menu with ingredients obtainable at the Farmer’s Market.

There is much to be said for any business that has been able to endure the fluctuations of commerce and trends and to keep a foothold for 30 years but when the biggest adversary of all is the Kansas weather, wow that is quite an accomplishment.  While none of the founding Lawrence Farmer’s Market vendors are participants in the market any longer there many with a long and storied marriage to this great community institution, Floyd Ott (fruit and produce), Gladys Reynolds (baked goods), Richard Bean (honey), and John and Karen Pendleton (produce and flowers) have all been vendors since 1982 or before.  But as Taylor-Puckett explains, it is not all roses and honey, “This is a crucial period for our market and local agriculture in general.  Area farmers live on an extremely small profit margin.  As older producers retire, few younger farmers are there to fill the voids.  Farmers’ markets are one of the only outlets where farmers are able to sell directly to the consumer thereby receiving the full value of their labor.  In order for local growers to continue to produce fresh, wholesome agricultural products they need a vibrant, well-attended farmers market to sell their goods.”

In todays self-check out lines and automated “customer service” directories, isn’t it nice to have at your disposal such a personal way to purchase what you and your family ingest?  These are proud farmers, they work hard and they pride themselves on the superiority of their product.  If you are in need of peaches, heirloom vegetables, blueberries, emu, elk, duck eggs, chicken eggs, honey, or a bouquet of flowers you will find an entire meal and a centerpiece for your table at the Lawrence Farmer’s Market and so much more.  Help our local farmer’s not only keep the oldest Kansas farmer’s market growing, but we might even make it the best Kansas farmer’s market.