Craig Daily Press / DBA's Farmers Market prepares for another season

Archive for Monday, March 30, 2009

Carol Valera Jacobson/courtesy. Enlarge photo.

Pictured are the many items Carol Valera Jacobson acquired at last year's Downtown Business Association Farmers Market, including garlic, dill, buffalo burger, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes and eggs. Jacobson said she scheduled her meals for the week around the food she acquired from the market.

By Hans Hallgren

March 30, 2009

If you go

What: Downtown Business Association's Farmers Market organizational meeting.

When: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Golden Cavvy, 538 Yampa Ave.

Who's invited: Community members who are gardeners, bakers, growers and organizers.

When asked what she remembered most about last year's Downtown Business Association's Farmers Market, Carol Jacobson had a few responses.

First, there was a photograph she took of a particular haul of food she acquired from the market.

"Looking at that and realizing that is how I was going to schedule my meals for the rest of the week," said Jacobson, last year's market coordinator.

She also said she felt proud to buy food in her hometown from the people who produced it.

With that spirit, the Farmers Market will be entering into its 2009 season.

It is an annual event that serves as a gathering place for local gardeners, bakers, growers and many others to sell their goods.

A meeting will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Golden Cavvy, 538 Yampa Ave., to outline the upcoming season.

Jacobson said there will be a guided conversation about the components of the Farmers Market, how it should work and who wants to be a part of it.

This will be the third year for the Farmers Market, which takes place from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursdays, beginning in May or June at Alice Pleasant Park in downtown Craig.

Last year's market had about three to five regular vendors and more than 10 vendors who showed up periodically.

Jacobson said she is hoping for more vendors this season, which will include music and other community activities to keep the market lively.

But, "it's a good thing if it has a community base of support and focus," she said.

Jacobson continued talking about her favorite moments from last year's market.

She remembers Miranda Morris, who set up her own little stand one afternoon.

"She went out, she got the rocks, she cleaned them, she put them on a tray: she had fresh rocks (for sale)," said Jacobson, laughing at the memory.

Morrie set up a table and a sign that read "fresh rocks."

Jacobson said she spent a quarter on a rock because she supports young entrepreneurs and creative thinking.

Jacobson said that is what the farmers market is for - buying local and supporting community members.

But, more than that, it also is a meeting place, a place to spend a few hours with neighbors, friends, teachers, friends and relatives.

And possibly buy a fresh rock and pick up a story to tell.