The Downtown Poplar Bluff Farmer’s Market will begin its season Saturday with about a dozen veteran vendors and a new enclosure.
The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday through September, said DPB Director Jerrica Fox.
Its first weekend coincides with events for the BBQ Street Wars, which concludes with an awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Pairing the two events helped draw a large crowd for the market’s opening day last year, said Fox, adding come changes have been made this year to benefit residents and vendors.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture grant has allowed DPB to construct an enclosure since the last season. It can hold a dozen vendors and spots were snapped up in the first week to sign up, Fox said.
The market expects to have about 20 vendors on weekends through the season, dependent on weather. All produce vendors come from an area within 100 miles of Poplar Bluff.
“We will have a wide variety of things, from tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and squash, to green beans and during the season, blackberries and peaches,” said Fox. “There are groups that sell bagels, breads, pies and baked goods. There is also Epoch Scents, which sells soy melts.
“It’s a one-stop for everything, from food to … plants to plant in your own garden and home goods.”
The farmer’s market has been operated by DPB for about six years.
A market manager is on site during the day, allowing all vendors to take debit, credit and EBT/SNAP cards. The manager also ensures vendors are set up on time and the market is in good operating order.
Another addition to opening day will be a seafood vendor, AB Seafood, which brings everything from homemade crab cakes, gulf shrimp and crawfish to gator meat in an inspected food truck.
This vendor was on site last year and usually participates every six to eight weeks, Fox said. They travel to the Gulf weekly and operate through the midwest, she explained.
Special events with family friendly activities will be announced on the second Saturdays of October, November and December.
Additional information can be found on the Downtown Poplar Bluff Farmer’s Market Facebook page, Fox said.