Arlee farmers market moves
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You can buy just about everything but a farmer at the Arlee Farmers Market, which is now open on Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m.
“We don’t have actual farmers for sale,” Julia Longacre said jokingly. “But that might have potential as a future fundraiser. We’ve got all kinds of other things, though.”
The market opened about a month early this year at a new location on Pow Wow Road inside the rosy iron gates.
“This town has so much talent,” she said. “We wanted the market to continue to help the community.”
The Community Development Corporation organized the market in the past, but this year Roy Mills offered to step in and take over the project. He already has a license to operate a farmers market with his artisan bakery.
“We have the license but the market is separate from the shop,” he said. “We started a three-person board and got the vendors here.”
The board includes Julia Longacre, David Wolverton and Roy Mills, who are making plans for the market.
“This market has some serious potential,” Longacre said. “We want this to be a social gathering where people can get some food and see what people are making.”
The growing season is still early, but Wolverton had a few plants to sell including miniature sweet peppers, and he plans to bring tomatoes too.
“They’ll be ready in about a month,” he said. “I’ve got 20 different kinds this year.”
Jackson Curtiss, 4, sold mint in little bottles half full of water at a dollar each. He is trying to earn enough money to go see a movie. He said he “never ‘selled’ stuff before” but he plans to do it again next week.
“The mint was outside,” he said. “We cut down the puff balls (which are dandelions) to get the mint. I put the mint in bottles.”
Pat Talbitzer sold her usual aprons, which got her the nickname “the apron lady.” She also had blankets and pajamas. Taylor and Peyton Lammerding are back again this year with their jam making business called Bickering Sisters.
“The girls are saving money for college and to buy a vehicle,” the sister’s father Jeff Lammerding said while the girls were at home getting a chair they forgot so they wouldn’t have to stand while waiting for customers.
Don Grant was selling butcher blocks he made, and Jim Cockriel sold recycled items including silver spoons turned into jewelry .
“I like to create things out of something that is worn out,” he said. “And there is a need to recycle.”
At the far end of the market, people could buy Cajun food, including alligator burgers, from a food truck. The vendors and the food truck plan to be back next week.
