Market offers produce, culture for all

Just before 8 a.m. Saturday, the Bloomington Farmer's Market was already busy. There were families with small children in strollers, gray-haired couples, single college girls and middle-aged couples. The market had opened at 7 a.m., and the early birds were leaving as the next batch of people arrived. The wares for sale varied from hardy rose bushes to organic meat, painted tin chimes to oriental lilies, honey, potatoes, lettuce and cheese. \nThe farmer's market, which first opened in July 1975 at the Third Street Park, was relocated to the Showers Plaza at Eighth and Morton Street in 1998 after two previous moves. The market is not only a place to sell and buy produce. Groups set up tables to provide information while friends, families and strangers meet and visit.\nBloomington resident Sophia Hauserman said she has been coming to the market since the early 1980s. In the past she was a vendor, but now she visits as a patron. Saturday she shopped with her friend Gene Epstein, who was visiting from Cleveland, Ohio. It was Epstein's first visit to the market. \n"These are the most beautiful bouquets I've ever seen," she said when while examining the offerings of a flower vendor.\nEpstein said she was impressed with the general smiles, spirited feeling and the great intergenerational crowd. Some families at the market span three generations, with parents, grandparents and children shopping in its aisles. \nThe growing popularity of the market poses a challenge for new vendors who have trouble obtaining stalls, which are allocated on a seniority-based points system by Bloomington Parks and Recreation.\nSome of the stalls are unreserved, but they are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. This competition means vendors will come as early as 4:30 a.m. to set up. Some even park at the Showers Common the night before just to ensure themselves a spot.\nSean Breeden-Ost has been vending salad mix at the market on and off since 1990. His stall was originally his brother's, and he took it over full time last year.\nBreeden-Ost said he enjoys meeting new people every week. \n"It's exciting and visually stimulating," he said. "It's palatable, the energy of this place. I wish it was seven days a week. It could happen in Bloomington."\nBreeden-Ost expressed how hard it is to compete with California growers who supply the local supermarket chains. He charges more per pound than the California bagged salads found in the store because of the labor intensity involved in running a smaller operation. California growers are working at a larger scale and can charge less.\nBreeden-Ost said he questions the sustainability of trucking salad 2,000 miles versus two. \n"The produce sold at the Farmer's Market is better for the environment (most growers are certified organic), provide fresher products and it's is more sustainable," he said.\nArea 10, Agency on Aging, a nonprofit local chapter of a national organization for the elderly, has a Women, Infants, Children, or WIC, voucher program that can be used to buy food at the market. Area residents over the age of 60 may qualify for the vouchers if they currently need assistance or have in the past. Each senior citizen may receive $18 in vouchers they can use at various vendors who accept them. The vouchers cannot be used to buy art or flowers and must be used on edible products. \n"This program allows our area seniors to come and socialize, as well as get fresh vegetables," said Sharon Therkildsen of Area 10. \nJessie Cook and Steve Dillon, residents of Unionville, said they try to come to the market every week. Cook has been coming for more than 20 years and her husband, Dillon, has been enjoying the market for more than seven years. After enjoying a breakfast of coffee and pastries sold at the market, they visited their friend who sells maple syrup, and also visited friends from their local church. \nDillon was a Libertarian candidate for judge a few years back. He said setting up a table at the market helped spread public knowledge about his party. \n"It's great community," Dillon said. "Not only is there great food and friends to visit, but there is also the opportunity of activism."\n-- Contact staff writer Maurina Paradise at paradise@indiana.edu.