Owasso Farmers Market Enters Tenth Year
By ANNE BOYD
Contributing Writer
LOCAL FOODS: Lee Ann Boyer, Owasso Farmers Market vice president, stands beside a truck displaying the produce and offerings that shoppers can expect to find at the market, which runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon in the YMCA parking lot.
Courtesy Owasso Farmers Market
In 2005, a group of friends decided to create a market for the area to enjoy. They set up tables, filled baskets with fresh foods, and greeted everyone who came by.
Since then, the market has grown to be an important part of the community. Families can pick out healthy ingredients that the vendors proudly display.
Lee Ann Boyer serves as vice president of the market and was happy to share that there are 12 to 14 vendors each season-some who have been with the market from its very beginning, she says, such as May Mayacha Produce, Aberdean Farms, Snakebite Farms and Creekside Plants and Produce / Blakley Family Farms.
Other vendors that can be found include Blue Turtle Soap, Dragonfly Gardens, Yang Produce, Xee’s Produce, Vue Produce, Bob’s Produce and Bird Houses, Eden Veggie Farms, and new this year are Cho’s Produce, LittlePaw Studio, Beth’s Comic Creations and Augusto’s Green Sauce.
Of course, as is the case with most farmers markets, the focus of the Owasso market is produce: “You can find any type of produce that can be grown in Oklahoma. We’ll have asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, herbs lettuce, onions, peas, bedding plants, rhubarb, squash, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, okra, potatoes, peppers, pecans, corn and cucumbers just to name a few items.”
The market features all of the tasty foods that are in season. So be sure to pick up your asparagus before the weather turns to hot and your watermelons later in the summer, Boyer says.
In addition to locally-grown produce, shoppers can also find farm raised beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fresh eggs and honey.
Other surprises found at the market include handmade soaps, gourd birdhouses and wood carved items.
Boyer explains that the Owasso Farmer’s Market is made up of vendors and a small board of directors. Some of the directors are vendors while others are simply volunteers who wanted to get involved.
The market is held every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon in the YMCA’s parking lot. Vendors begin to gather in April, when the produce starts to come in. The market remains open until produce runs out, which typically occurs in November.
A winter market is also held every other Saturday in the off-season.
Boyer says that she greatly appreciates the vendors who make the market possible.
“Anyone who has ever had even a small garden knows it is very hard work tilling, planting, weeding and generally keeping up. Many of our vendors have very large gardens (more than an acre) and primarily ‘hand’ work it, in other words, do not use a tractor. For some vendors it is how they make their living. For others, it is a source of extra cash. For some, it is just an all-consuming hobby.
Boyer is thankful to all of the local farmers and vendors who make their produce and other items available, which especially helps those who are physically unable to care for their own gardens.
“I am also so thankful to our customers who make a special trip to the Owasso Farmers Market to buy from local small farmers,” she continues. “I know many of our customers are busy with kids, family and jobs and could easily just pick up all their groceries from one of the local grocery stores, but they choose to bring their business here.”
To learn more about the Owasso Farmer’s Market or to get involved, visitwww.owassofarmersmarket.com.
Updated 06-23-2014
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