Farmers’ market blooms despite weather

The weather has been less than ideal for Pettis County farmers, but local growers are still producing and selling fruits and vegetables.

Visitors to Thompson Hills Shopping Center farmers’ market will see everything from honey to tomatoes for sale in the parking lot.

Ed and Denise Shirley, of Cole Camp, have been growing and selling tomatoes at Thompson Hills for three years. Their table full of bright red tomatoes are some of their best tasting ones yet, Denise said.

“We guarantee them. I want people to come back and say, ‘Man that was the best tasting tomato ever,’ ” Ed said.

The Shirleys’ farm in Cole Camp has more than 440 plants that are grown in a high tunnel with wood sides and a plastic roof. Denise explained that this type of system, along with a 50 percent mix of organic fertilizer, is ideal for growing a beautiful tomato.

“We grow our own tomatoes on 10 acres in a high tunnel that my husband built. It is not a hot house or a green house; the tomatoes are just protected from things like high winds,” Denise said.

Not all the vendors have had such luck with their crops this year.

Gerald Dove, of Pettis County, has been selling produce here for 15 years.

Dove said the weather has hurt his crop. Dove sells honey in addition to cucumbers and tomatoes.

Nancy Finley, of Sedalia, made her first trip to the farmers’ market and found exactly what she was looking for.  “I knew honey would be expensive, but I am glad I found what I was looking for out here,” she said.

Sellers said one of the big differences between grocery store produce and their goods is that local produce is picked ripe.

“This is fresh, and it is 100 times better than any store variety,” Tom Pointer said about his cucumbers, watermelon and tomatoes.

“I will not buy a store bought tomato, ever,” Denise Shirley said.

Many customers discuss planting techniques or swap stories. Lawanna Young, of Deepwater, and she visits the farmers’ market at least five or six times a year to see what everyone is selling.

“They usually have something that I don’t plant in my garden,” Young said.

The produce prices are competitive with local grocery stores. A basket of vine-ripened tomatoes goes for around $5 and a cucumber is about $1.
Vendors sit long hours in all weather to make money, but they also enjoy each other’s company.

“We love what we do and we make great friends, we are all in this together,” Shirley said.

Pointer has a great time just being around people.

“We appreciate all the business and everyone here is very nice, we enjoy it all,” Pointer said.