Nothing tastes better than a tomato you grow yourself.
The words of Mike Rodr might serve as a theme for the new Boonville Farmers Market, set to open in May.
Rodr, the manager of Orscheln Farm and Home, said he has seen more people come into the farm supply store and buy equipment to grow their own produce. He attributes some of that to the recession.
“The economy being down, that’s part of it, but people want to put a little bit more into what they get back,” Rodr said.
At the farmers market, the emphasis is local, market manager Karen Green said. Potential vendors must live in Boonville or a nearby county and are only allowed to sell items they grew or produced themselves.
Vendors must submit to one annual inspection of their farming operations, Green said. It’s to ensure that they got their hands dirty picking the 'maters — rather than just opening a crate of produce from Florida or buying it in a store. Vendors are expected to be honest about whether their products are organic or not, Green said.
Meeting notice
WHAT: Boonville Farmers Market vendors meeting
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: City Hall, downtown Boonville
MORE INFORMATION
• Attendees will be allowed to ask questions and give input about the operation of the farmers market.
• Vendor applications and market rules are available at boonvillemo.org and coopercountymo.org.
• The farmers market is scheduled to open at 8 a.m. April 3 in the Orscheln parking lot. A grand-opening festival is scheduled for May 1.
