FREDERICKTOWN — The Fredericktown Farmers Market is slowly building up for the season as produce and products become available. Wednesday afternoon, four vendors gathered to sell items. As the season develops, the number of vendors hopefully will match or exceed last year’s peak of 16 vendors.
“We’re just going to get bigger and better,” said Jennifer Smith, one of the organizers of the market. She said that not only is the cost of gas likely to help local markets such as this one, but recent food scares make many people think twice about where they buy their food.
“When you think about how many hands touch that food before it gets to your table,” Smith said, “it makes this look really good.”
Another advantage of buying locally, she said, is the personal interaction with farmers and other community members.
Indeed, community interaction is a big part of the attraction. Jennifer Calabretta and her daughter, Emily, had two tables full of items, including some cheese samples which Fredericktown resident Paul Linhares tried, leading to a purchase. The conversation went from the goods on the table, to markets in general, and ended up in a discussion about the funding for the planned Fredericktown Community Center.
Along the way, Linhares said that he likes to come to the farmers market and that he prefers organic foods. He thinks, however, that the government could be doing more to facilitate organic farmers.
“I wish they’d make it easier to get certified,” Linhares said, noting that the cost, which is hundreds of dollars, discourages many farmers from getting official certifications.
“I think this is the future,” said Calabretta, gesturing around at the stands. She said that small-town, community-based food supplies are the way to go.
The Calabrettas were selling baked goods, produce and fresh-made cheese from Doug Daniels’ Ohio Farm Direct operation in Fredericktown, including such cheeses as colby, horseradish, garlic and herb, lemon zest, cheddar, chipotle, low-fat/low-salt and raw milk cheddar.
At the next table, Margie Roman was selling a variety of baked goods, including cookies and cakes.
A little farther down the sidewalk, Eva Brisker from Sassafras Hill Farm had some plants left, but was already sold out of most of her produce. She drew special attention to her garlic scapes.
“I only have them two weeks per year,” Brisker said, adding that next week would be the last chance to get them from her for this year. Brisker had some recipes from Robert Giehl with her in case anyone had any question about how to use scapes in place of bulbs. She said she should have snow peas next week as well.
Nine-year-old entrepreneur Katy Spires of Fredericktown was running her own table at the market. The proprietor of Katy’s Kakes was offering homemade gingerbread cake, oatmeal cake and chocolate banana cake. She said she will change what varieties of baked goods she makes from time to time, but that she planned on doing the market weekly. She sold out of every cake she brought Wednesday.
