Market Grows with Rose District
By EMILY RAMSEY
Managing Editor
LOCALLY SOURCED: Shoppers support local farmers at the Rose District Farmers Market, in downtown Broken Arrow. The market’s season begins April 18 and runs every Saturday through Sept. 26.
EMILY RAMSEY for GTR Newspapers
Broken Arrow’s Rose District Farmers Market kicks off its eighth season April 18 on Main Street. The market will run every Saturday through Sept. 26.
With vendor applications still being accepted, the market currently has 44 vendors signed up to participate, “the most vendors we’ve ever had,” says Krista Flasch, director of communications for the City of Broken Arrow.
Vendor items include agricultural crafts, local honey and eggs, baked goods, and locally-grown meats.
Starting in May, shoppers will enjoy live music and the Kids Corner, where children can make take-home crafts. Kids Corner is hosted by local non-profit groups and small businesses that specialize in working with children.
“It’s important to have a Kids Corner and share the experience of a farmers market with them because they will carry that with them as they grow up,” says Judy Prieto, who has served as the farmers market coordinator since 2013.
Various special events will occur throughout the spring and summer months.
On May 16, Keep Broken Arrow Beautiful will hold its rose festival in conjunction with the market. The festival will offer a large selection of roses and instruction on growing and maintaining roses.
Also on May 16, shoppers who bring their reusable bags to the market can enter a drawing to win one of three $100 vouchers to be spent at the market.
In recognition of Local Food Week, on June 20, local Chef Barry Jarvis, founder of Edible Tulsa magazine, will demonstrate ways to prepare and cook local produce.
On July 18, gardening expert Alan Storjohann will host a live broadcast at the farmers market from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Storjohann will be available to answer gardening questions throughout the broadcast. Also, taking place further south on Main Street will be the 17th Annual Taste of Summer at the Broken Arrow Community Center.
August 15 will be Back to School Day at the market, where Jill Meredith from The Girl Can Cook will demonstrate various ways to use fresh produce to create tasty and easy packable lunches.
Last year, the market was renamed the Rose District Farmers Market to enhance its name recognition and to better align the market with the growing downtown district.
The market has seen consistent growth in number of vendors and vendor revenue since its opening year in 2008.
Flasch credits that steady increase to the national push for locally-grown food, the rising popularity of the Rose District and the passion of Prieto. “Judy has done a great job engaging farmers,” says Flasch. “She’s passionate about healthy eating and communicating with the community about healthy eating options.”
In addition, Cherry Street Farmers’ Market in Tulsa opens April 4, 7 a.m.-11. The market is entering its 18th year and is making a name change to Tulsa Farmers’ Market to encompass more than just Cherry Street, says Market Administrator Penni Shelton. This includes on Brookside, where the winter market (open November-March) and the Wednesday summer market (open May-October) operate in the Whole Foods Market parking lot, 1401 E. 41st St.
Starting April 23, The Market at Guthrie Green in downtown Tulsa will offer produce and other food vendors every Thursday through Oct. 29, 4-7 p.m.
This market will replace Guthrie Green’s Sunday Market that operated in previous years.
“We saw the need for a downtown grocery store and wanted to provide more opportunity to downtown dwellers for fresh produce,” says Guthrie Green Program Administrator and Market Manager Julia White.
However, there are plans to offer special bazaars on various Saturdays throughout the upcoming season for crafters and other local artists.
Other area markets include Jenks Main Street Farmers Market in the parking lot of Tedford Insurance, 121 E. Main St., opens April 4, Saturdays 8 a.m. – noon, and Owasso Farmers Market at Owasso Family , 8300 N. Owasso Expwy., opening in late April/early May, Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. – noon.
Updated 03-24-2015
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