Farmers Markets signal arrival of Spring in Washington, Benton counties

As spring rolls into the Ozarks, farmers markets are opening across Benton and Washington counties as if to announce the arrival of a new season. Locally grown fruits, vegetables and meat as well as arts and crafts, flowers and jams and jellies will be up for sale in Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale and, the granddaddy of them all, Fayetteville.

Bentonville and Rogers Markets open Saturday (April 25) Springdale, the following Saturday (May 2) and Fayetteville opened the first weekend in April. The Fayetteville market closes at 2 p.m.; the others at 1 p.m.

Fingers are crossed for a sunny and warm opening day, unlike two years ago when Paula Boles, manager and vendor at the Springdale market, remembers opening day, sitting in 20 degrees with rain and sleet for opening market day there. 

“We have some of the most loyal customers,” Boles said.

Many vendors come back week after week to sell their wares and have been doing so for years. Sara Pollard has sold herbs and plants at the Fayetteville market for 31 years including 10 as a manager of that market.

“I love this,” Pollard said. “This is always wanted to do.”

She came to Arkansas from Kansas to pursue a master’s degree in agronomy at the University of Arkansas but growing plants and selling to the public has been a lifelong passion. She owns Mountain Greenery.

Others may bring products to market only when their products are in season, such as blueberry or peach growers.

The markets all offer different special events during their operations. Some vendors are there throughout the growing season with different products and other vendors, who specialize in one or two products, are there only during that product’s season.

Bentonville is the only market which keeps track of sales, reporting $598,000 in sales in 2013 and $667,000 in 2014. Another banner year is expected in Bentonville because of growth in the region, said Nicki Allison, market manager.

Kimberly Scott, manager of the Rogers market, said patrons spend on average between $20 and $40 a week on the fresh, local products. Allison said the average in Bentonville in 2012 was $20 per patron, the last year a study was done, adding, she thinks it would be closer to $30 per patron visit now. 

In the other markets, the vendors keep track of their own sales and aren’t required to report those numbers to markets, the managers said.

BENTONVILLE
The Bentonville Farmers Market opens at 7:30 a.m. April 25 on the Bentonville Square. The market operates every Saturday until 1 p.m.

The market, in partnership with Bentonville Parks and Recreation will open a midweek market in the new Bentonville Community Center at 1101 S.W. Citizens Circle, from 2:30 to 7 p.m., starting May 6. The Wednesday market will have produce, prepared foods and crafts and patrons can expect to see familiar vendors as well as new ones. 

The Wednesday market is a result of customer demand and vendors request another outlet for sales, said Dallison. The market draws between 3,000 and 5,000 patrons weekly 

The Saturday Market will continue until Oct. 31 and has been in operation for 39 years. Operated by Downtown Bentonville Inc, the market is sponsored by Arvest Bank and Tusk and Trotter restaurant.

FAYETTEVILLE
The Fayetteville Farmers Market is often referred to as the “Crown Jewel of Fayetteville.” It opens at 7 a.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings on the Fayetteville Square and on Sundays at the Jefferson Center parking lot, 600 S. College Ave.

The Saturday market continues into November while the weekday markets close in October and the Sunday market in September.

The market is the oldest in Northwest Arkansas, in existence since 1973, said Teresa Maurer, market manager. There are 70 vendors on the square on Saturdays. All are members of the Rural Mountain Producers Exchange.

Like other markets, the Fayetteville market offers locally produced vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, meats, baked goods, honey, eggs, jams, cheese, crafts and fine art from Washington, Benton, Carroll and Madison counties. The first meat vendor became a market member in 2000 and fresh lamb has been offered for the last four seasons.

Maurer said two years ago the City of Fayetteville allowed the market to expand by closing three streets allowing vendors to set up on both sides of Block, Mountain and East streets. Throughout the season, nonprofit organizations are allowed to set up to offer information and the Fayetteville Animal Shelter and the Humane Society greet patrons with animals, usually dogs, who are looking for a forever home.

Peak hours are between 9 and 11 a.m., Maurer said. Attendance can be as high as 7,000 to 8,000 patrons during special events.

ROGERS
The Rogers Farmers' Market also opens Saturday, starting at 7 a.m. with about 30 of the 55 registered vendors, said Kimberly Scott, market manager. The market operates every Saturday and Wednesday at First and Walnut streets in downtown. The market started about 30 year ago.

In addition to local growers, the market features bakery items, craftsmen, jams, honey as well as protein producers of beef, pork and chicken, Scott said. The list of vendors include 12 new ones this year, two flower growers, a glass artist, a woodworking artist and new bakers, she said
  
Average attendance is usually 300 to 500 patrons a week but will swell up to 2,000 on Saturdays during the height of the growing season in the summer.

Bill Atkins, a guitar player in Rogers, will be the featured music provider during the opening day.

SPRINGDALE
The Springdale market opens at 7 a.m., May 2, at its usual location at the Jones Center at 922 E. Emma Ave. The market is open in the parking lot at the Jones Center on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during the spring, summer and fall months, said Paula Boles, market manager.

In existence for 18 years, the Springdale market is the baby of the group. New this year is the addition of pastured goat, beef, chicken and pork fresh meat from local growers as well as crafts and flowers. The market also offers farm fresh eggs, baked goods, jams, jellies, honey, handmade soaps and crafts to mention a few items.

The market offers products from about 40 vendors during the growing season although not all vendors are there every week. Boles said participation depends on what’s in season.

Like other markets, Springdale offers assistance to seniors and families through SNAP and WIC and other programs. Seniors can register for $50 worth of coupons at the Springdale Senior Center on May 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Springdale and the other markets also provide education programs on agriculture in Northwest Arkansas. Springdale takes it a step further with a cookbook to help patrons learn how to cook foods available at the market that they may not know about. The book sells for $3.

“There are recipes for just about everything sold from market,” she said.