Farmers market opens Saturday

Plan your weekend activities around the opening Saturday of the Downtown Poplar Bluff Ed DeGaris Memorial Farmers Market located at 301 S. Fifth St. across from the Black River Coliseum.

The hours will be from 8 a.m.-noon and will provide an opportunity to visit with the vendors. Many will be familiar faces offering favorites they’ve provided in past years. Others may be new to the venue and provide items new to your shopping list.

Purposes for the Farmers’ Market “is to provide a location for our local farmers and growers to sell their produce, plants, herbs, and more in the heart of our community, downtown,” said Morgan McIntosh, Downtown development director.

Residents and visitors may buy directly from local growers and producers since “produce must be grown within 100 miles of the market,” McIntosh said. “While we have some from outside of Poplar Bluff, they are from within 100 miles.”

McIntosh explained, “We’re expecting to have around 30 vendors with the market growing throughout the season. You may expect some produce (it is still early in the season), fresh baked breads and desserts, homemade crafts and decor.”

The market provides a way to meet the people growing the food you put on your table, she said. You can feel good about shopping at the market and knowing the funds are going directly to the pockets of those that put in the hard work to produce the items they sell. Not only are you supporting their business, you are shopping locally.

Debbie Merciers is the market manager.

The market is named for the late Ed DeGaris who served as a Poplar Bluff city councilman after retiring from Poplar Bluff Police Department. DeGaris and his family were involved in Downtown activities as well other areas of the community.