Editorial: Farmers' market is culture

By Caitlin Thornbrugh

Friday, September 25, 2009

Supporting local farmers, eating healthier organic foods, being directly involved in the community and tasting the best hangover food on Saturday mornings are some of the best parts of the Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market. Students will find that a trip to the market not only supports their community, but is a way to absorb local culture and just simply eat food that tastes good.

According to its Web site, the market began on a Saturday morning more than 30 years ago with as few as five vendors. It has now grown to boast more than 80 vendors, and is open from the last weekend in April to the second Saturday in November.

Megan Paisley, who travels from outside Lawrence to sell fresh, homemade bread and other products from her own CraneRiver Farms, said she felt the market in Lawrence had the best atmosphere in Kansas. “Customers here are so much nicer,” Paisley said. “This doesn’t feel like work.”

She also said she liked knowing all the other vendors had produced the products themselves. Something that makes the market unique is that it is a “producer-only” market, meaning the customer is purchasing and interacting directly with the grower, farmer, rancher or baker.

Along with traditional produce such as tomatoes and corn, there are a variety of unconventional items ranging from elk meat, emu lotion and babaganoush to pickled asparagus and fresh flowers. Particularly for students who miss Mom’s cooking, there are a variety of prepared foods such as homemade pizza rolls, mini baked pies and fresh salsa. And it’s also a cure for Saturday morning food cravings with breakfast burritos and sausage biscuits that make McDonald’s look like something you would feel bad feeding your dog.

Other benefits include watching chef demonstrations, such as Genovese’s Chef Armando Paniagua prepare gnocchi, and listening to local musicians while you browse. Two musical performances and one performing artist are permitted per market day, which means a wide variety of music.

The market is also reaching out to the community by accepting food stamps, and the Lawrence Community Shelter residents operate a booth with their business Good Dog! Biscuits and Treats. LCS guests run all aspects of this business, and proceeds go to the employees and back into continuing the business.

A new aspect to the market began after a state law was passed on July 1. Now, along with your vegetables, Kansas wineries are selling local wine at the market.

The market does start early on a Saturday, lasting from 7 to 11 a.m. However, the food alone makes it worth the early rise. The market is located in the public parking lot between Eighth and Nineth streets and New Hampshire and Rhode Island streets.

If it still seems too early, a smaller version of the Saturday market takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. in the public parking lot between Tenth and Eleventh streets on the east side of Vermont Street.

Set your alarm, plan for an afternoon nap and make your way to the Saturday morning Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market. It is a community experience with many mouth-watering reasons to visit.

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