GRFM News

Another growing season is here. Market has been busy lately and more variety is starting to come in. This week we started seeing berries, peas, beans, lots of lettuces and greens, cucumbers, kohlrabi, green onions, zucchini, a few tomatoes, and herbs. You can also find a variety of meats, jams, jellies, honeys, baked goods, goat cheese, and canned goods. There are also a lot of new crafts this year, so you may be able to find a unique gift.

Stop in and stroll around. Looking for something in particular? ask a vendor. If one of us doesn’t have it we may be able to point you in the direction of someone who does.

Remember that we can only sell produce that is grown within a fifty mile radius of Grand Rapids, so you won’t be finding oranges or bananas, and you won’t be finding corn or melons yet either. But keep checking back, as things are starting to pick up.

I hope to see you soon.

The 2010 Farmers Market season opens May 5th with Jams and Jellies, baked goods, plants, honey, meats, and more. Stop in for a visit and your morning coffee. You can find out what we have going on for this year.

Plants and goodies early in 2009 Farmers Market season

The meeting will cover Final preparations before the start of the 2010 Market season. Items to discuss are… Signs, Advertising, Supporting Membership program, Starting date, and any other business.

Anyone interested in the Farmers Market is welcome to attend.

Market Meeting – 2nd meeting of 2010
Time: 5:30PM Monday, March 1st
Location: 260 NE 2nd Street, Grand Rapids MN 55744

This meeting will continue with preparing for the 2010 season. Discuss signs and advertising. Let folks know about upcoming Dynamic Farmers Markets conference and other events.

Location is the conference room of KAXE radio station. (KAXE is located next to the Grand Rapids Library.)

Anyone interested in becoming a Farmers Market vendor or learning how the market works, is welcome to attend.

Market Meeting – 1st meeting of 2010
Time: 5:00PM Monday, February 1st
Location: 260 NE 2nd Street, Grand Rapids MN 55744

The first meeting of the year involves election of officers, setting membership dues and vendor fees, start up dates, and policy changes.

Location is the conference room of KAXE radio station. (KAXE is located next to the Grand Rapids Library.)

Anyone interested in becoming a Farmers Market vendor or learning how the market works, is welcome to attend.

The nice weather we have been having lately has really helped the squash, pumpkins, and melons. Many different kinds of squash are at market now, Hubbard, Zucchini, Acorn, Buttercup, and much more.

Melons are also showing up. Muskmelon, Cantaloupe, and Watermelon. The small melons are perfect for using up in one sitting.

Sweet corn is still very tasty and should continue for a while.

Gourds and fall decorations are nice this time of year.

Busy day at the Grand Rapids MN, Farmers Market

I stopped in at River Road Farms the other day and toured their gardens. Wow! They sure have a lot of stuff growing.

Click a picture to see it larger.

Neal and Krista (along with son Noah and Krista’s sister, Svea) guided the tour, showing the many kinds of vegetables and fruit they have growing.

With all the variety and multiple plantings they should have a good selection coming in all season.

The season is picking up with more stuff. It was great to see fresh carrots, broccoli, onions, herbs, greens (of all kinds), and much more last Saturday.

There will probably be strawberries for a short time yet, the season is winding down tho.

Raspberries are beginning to come in with blueberries not too far off.

Oh… And I mustn’t forget the new potatoes, they are arriving. And… There are still peas to be found for new potatoes and creamed peas. Yum!

Here are a few pictures from Saturday:

Grand Rapids, MN Farmers Market

Grand Rapids, MN Farmers Market

Grand Rapids, MN Farmers Market

Grand Rapids, MN Farmers Market

It’s been a challenging growing season with cool weather and not much rain. The rain showers on Tuesday brought much needed rain. Hopefully the rest of the growing season will bring enough warm weather and timely rains.

Here’s a picture from a week ago showing one of my veggie patches with the sprinklers going:

Kents Veggies

This veggie patch has: Glads, Tomatoes, Onions, Kohlrabi, Radishes, Shallots, and Beets.