City Source

Edmond’s unique & popular Farmer’s Market

From City Source Edmond

SPOTLIGHT: Farmer’s Market offers year-round access to local produce and more

Both downtown and at Mitch Park locations, shoppers can find variety of items

To say Emily Harmon is passionate about the Edmond Farmer’s Market is kind of like saying ducks are fond of water.

“The market is designed to be an easy shopping trip for our on-the-go shoppers,” said Harmon, Marketing and Special Events Coordinator for the City of Edmond Parks & Recreation Department and Farmer's Market Manager. “In 30 minutes or less, you can get everything you need to make dinners for the week, and pre-make lunches and after school snacks.”

Late summer and early fall are great seasons to shop local, and the Edmond Farmer’s Market – celebrating its 22nd season – has it all. Open Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Festival Market Place, 26 W. 1st Street, its home since 2005, the market brings Oklahoma-grown produce and locally produced artisan crafts in an open-air setting that is family friendly.

From easy dinner options to the makings for a healthy school lunch, the local vendors you can find each Wednesday in Mitch Park through the end of September, and every Saturday in Downtown Edmond through the end of October can help you find just what you need.

The market has grown once again this season with the addition of new vendors. Additional options for fresh flowers, healthy snacks, new farmers, and unique handmade goods have been well received by the shoppers.

• Produce to be expected: Fall crop of Sweet Corn coming soon, still have squash, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, okra, garlic, microgreens, mushrooms, watermelons, and cantaloupe.

• Meat options: Beef, premium Mangalitsa Pork, chicken, goat, and lamb.

• Local nurseries are beginning to have fall plants, shrubs, and trees that can be planted now

• The market has a wide variety of baked goods, specialty food items like jelly, jam, BBQ Sauce, cheese, seasonings and more

“The abundance of rain at the beginning of peak growing season did cause some crop failure, but our farmers have bounced back, and they will continue to have the summer vegetables everyone loves for a while longer,” Harmon said. “We are looking forward to the first harvest of fall crops, especially the sweet corn and other varieties of squash like acorn and butternut.”

The market team has worked to build a family area within the market area, that includes games, newly installed picnic tables, food and beverage trucks, and pop-up appearances from the crowd favorite face painter and the Parks & Recreation craft project tents.

The newest addition to Festival Market Place is the sound system that allows for music to be played throughout the market day and gives the market team the opportunity to make announcements to the crowd.

“We are excited to continue our Indoor Winter Market at the Edmond Senior Center in Mitch Park this year,” Harmon said. “Starting in November, shoppers can enjoy a climate-controlled shopping experience with 40 vendors.”

Since 1988, the Edmond Farmer’s Market has been one of the premier places for Oklahoma farmers to sell their crops directly to consumers. It officially became part of the City’s Parks & Recreation department in 2004, and the Festival Market Place location opened in 2005.

Today, visitors come to enjoy the experience and choose from the variety of locally grown vegetables and fruits, meats and handcraft specialty foods, as well as a diverse selection of unique handmade soaps, jewelry and other artisan crafts.

The market is registered with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and emphasizes Oklahoma produce. It meets all license requirements of the Oklahoma Department of Health.

After several seasons of consistent growth for not only the market area but vendor sales as well, the future is looking bright for the Edmond Farmer’s Market.

“It has been incredible to see the outpouring of support from our community for the local vendors that show up every market day and bring their very best products,” Harmon said. “I am currently looking at trends like what products sell out consistently, what products are the most popular, and what products are missing from the current vendor lineup. That information is what will guide how I plan for next season.

“Expect to see even more vendors and a stronger focus on educational programs like cooking demos, nutrition programs, and programs designed specifically to get kids involved with choosing what to buy.”

Learn more about the Edmond Farmer’s Market at www.edmondok.gov/365/farmers-market.

Learn more about what’s happening around the City at www.edmondok.gov/CitySource.