In the market for veggies? Talk to Warren McSwain

Shiny green bell peppers bigger than a grown man’s fist, waxy yellow squash and bundles of freshly-picked green beans are just a few of the fresh wares offered by Warren McSwain.

Sporting a snow white beard and quick grin, McSwain arrives daily to set up a vendor booth at the Thompson Hills Shopping Center farmers market. Dressed comfortably in long, cut-off jeans, well-worn T-shirt and wide, tan suspenders, McSwain is easy to spot.

“I’m here just about every day,” McSwain said. “I’ve got my regular customers.”

The 63-year-old Vietnam veteran cultivates a half-acre garden at his home in Florence where he grows a variety of vegetables including peppers, squash and zucchini. He then turns around and sells the produce at the market. McSwain, who began gardening six years ago, said gardening and selling produce is strictly a hobby.

“You can’t make a living out of this,” he said. “I do it because I enjoy it.”

Other than planting the seeds and harvesting the vegetables, McSwain said he spends very little time in his large garden.

“I only go out there to pick,” he said.

McSwain said he enjoys interacting with his customers and learns interesting tidbits about gardening almost daily. A recent customer asked McSwain if he realized the jalapeno peppers he was selling were male and female.

“I thought her cheese had slid off the bread,” he said. “But, she was right.”

McSwain happily discusses recipes, vegetables or the weather with customers or passersby. On Friday, he was introduced to a new type of okra, called climbing okra, by a visitor to his shaded booth.

“I’ve never heard of it,” he said as he inspected the okra.

Sedalia resident Carol Clarke is a regular visitor to McSwain’s booth. Clarke said she can count on the freshness of his products.

“He’s never sold me anything bad,” she said, “and he’s always smiling.”

Although McSwain is known for his upbeat personality, he has had more than his fair share of upset. He lost a 20-month-old grandchild to child abuse — a little girl he fondly recalls feeding popsicles.

He lost a wife, who he met on the Internet, when she decided to leave him for a friend.

“I didn’t mind losing her,” he joked.

McSwain also lost his commercial driver’s license, which was the way he made his living. He said he spent years behind the wheel of a chocolate-brown Peterbilt semi-truck as a truck driver. But, his license was revoked when police officers discovered he relied on insulin injections to control his diabetes. McSwain explained it was illegal for anyone with his disease to maintain a CDL. McSwain kept his insulin hidden in a water cooler and his needles under the mattress.

“I hid it for 10 years,” he said, “but I got caught.”  

He now lives on disability and the money he makes off his garden. But, he isn’t letting life’s little hurdles get him down.

“My life is no worse than anyone else’s,” McSwain said. “I’m doing what I like.”

EVERYDAY PEOPLE
Each Monday,  The Democrat will tell the story of a person with ties to the Sedalia area who isn’t in the news. They are the people involved in interesting and often meaningful endeavors that make up a community, the unsung folks you see at a grocery store or a table next to you in your favorite diner. If you have an Everyday People suggestion,  e-mail editor@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000, ext. 222.