Warm winter brings early surprises at area farmers’ markets

Regulars at the local farmers' markets will see a few surprises at the beginning of the season thanks to the warmer than normal winter.

Farmers’ market season kicks off this coming weekend with the opening of the Fayetteville Farmers’Market. Other area farmers’ markets open throughout April.

“The types of bouquets that people are going to be making will be different this year. Usually they are looking for tulips but those are done already and other flowers are in early,” said Teresa Maurer, volunteer coordinator for the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market. “The greens are coming in sooner. Things that people would put in a salad are going to be there sooner too.”

The story is similar across all of Northwest Arkansas. Produce and plants that like the cool season are starting and finishing more quickly. Those that like the warmer weather are starting earlier than normal and therefore will be ready ahead of schedule.

“If we can get past the freeze date, we will have some early fruit,” Maurer said.

Organizers for the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market and the Bentonville Farmers’ Market said many of the Asian greens are already going to be available. Both markets feature several vendors who offer the exotic produce. The Bentonville market opens April 28.

“I’ve heard that a bunch of greens (are) coming up,” said Bentonville Farmers’ Market Manager Nicki Dallison McNelly. “We’re hoping for a mild spring and hoping it won’t freeze. We’re expecting a lot of produce.”

Fay Horn of Horn Farms participates in several Farmers’ Markets, including Bentonville and Fayetteville. He has a wide variety of wares including produce, plants, jams, jellies and baked goods.

“You never know what it will do,” he said. “We may have a frost next week so it may not be as early as we think. A frost would hurt us now.”

The Farmers’ Almanac usually says April 20 is the cut-off date for freezes.

Mark Findahl is a farmer who participates in the West Fork Farmers’ Market, which opens April 21. He also participates in the Greenland market.

“We’re not rushing it any because all we need is a couple cold nights and (it would damage the plants),” he said. “But you have to play the averages. It doesn’t hurt to gamble and plant a few things.

“Last fall, after the bad summer, there was such a big fuss over how bad the winter was going to be and here we are. Now the same ones are saying it’s going to be a hot summer. We won’t know until October.”

Findahl said farmers are the ultimate optimist.

“We’ve got to be an optimist. If you’re a pessimist, you wouldn’t put a seed in the ground,” he said with a chuckle.

Findahl said that besides the greens, many of the fruits are also ahead of last year.

“Plums and peaches are about a week early,” he said.

Kimberly Scott, manager of the Rogers Farmers’ Market, said she’s also hearing many positive reports from vendors.
“We’re hopeful for a very good year,” she said. 

When the Rogers market opens April 28, Scott said there will be strawberries and greens available.

“We’re about a month early on strawberries,” she said. “They usually don’t come in until the middle of May.

So far all the fruit growers are happy because we haven’t had any late freezes. 

Scott said, “If the weather cooperates, it will be one of the best years we’ve ever had.”

One unwelcome effect of early warm temperatures concerning farmers is the bugs.

Henry Piazza of Piazza Farm in Tontitown is a vendor at the Rogers Farmers’ Market.

“We’ve had an awfully mild winter,” he said. “It’s not good for bugs and insects. The mosquitos are already out.”

Mark Bray, county extension agent for Benton County, said he has not heard many reports of major insect infestations yet, but that it’s possible that the bugs could start their lifecycles early.

“But the real problem with pests and disease is usually later in the season,” he said.

Bray agreed that the combination of a mild winter and the good soaking Northwest Arkansas received a couple of weeks ago bodes well for a good start to the season.

“That spring rain will give us a spectacular spring time,” he said.