Off to the Market We Go

What’s better to do on a Saturday then get out to the farmers’ markets and enjoy the best of Missouri home-grown produce and much more!

I spent this past Saturday doing just that. It had been awhile since I was able to do some market visits with the Missouri State Fair activities putting me a little bit behind on my normal farm tours and market visits.

Saturday started off to be a foggy and cold one when I stopped into the Historic Downtown Liberty Farmers’ Market. However, the weather didn’t keep the shoppers away, even Rachel Rays folks stopped in to do some filming of the market while I was visiting.

Shoppers can expect to find an array of products at the market including: fresh garden flowers, baked goods, vegetables, fruits, honey, jams and jellies, homemade chips and salsa and more than 13 types of garlic.

The Historic Downtown Liberty Farmer’s Market sponsored by Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. is seeking producers interested in selling at the market this year. The market, located on Franklin Street and Main Street in Historic Downtown Liberty, MO, serves Liberty and surrounding communities each Saturday from May 3rd through October 25th from 7:00am until noon.

After visiting with the vendors at Liberty I headed into Kansas City for the City Market’s Melon Festival. Deb Connors, City Market Master showed me around the market and introduced me to all the farmer vendors. The Melon Festival has activites of all sorts for shoppers at the market that include both kids and adult events like the watermelon seed spitting contest, melon bowling and even melon hats.

The City Market is the region's largest farmers' market can be found at the City Market every Saturday and Sunday year-round. More than 140 vendor stalls burst with bedding plants, fruits, vegetables, herbs, fresh baked goods and other sweets, cut flowers, meat products, honey and crafts made by local artisans.

The City Market was named the 2008 Market of the Year by the Missouri Farmers’ Market Association and AgriMissouri. The market strives to bring its customers great service and entertainment. The market provides an information table where shoppers can purchase market tote bags, posters and other promotional items, a tomato taxi that takes customers purchases to their cars for them, Mother Nature Storytime for children and a train that drives all around the market for children to ride.

Summer Farmers’ Market Hours: March - October; Saturdays 6:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sundays 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Winter Farmers’ Market Hours: November - March; Saturdays 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Sundays 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Weekdays 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Don’t miss the City Market’s City Market Cinema Rocky Horror Picture Show, Friday, September 26, starting at 9 pm for a unique open air screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Admission is FREE.

Get out to your local market today and enjoy Missouri apples this season.