Weekly farmers’ market to offer local apple tasting

Apple aficionados will gather in Bloomington to compare, taste and share in their quest to find the perfect apple.

The Bloomington Farmers’ Market Annual Apple Tasting will take place 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Saturday.

Slow Food Bloomington is sponsoring the apple tasting. It will be between the Farmers’ Market’s regular hours in Showers Plaza located on 401 N. Morton St.

Marcia Veldman, the program and facility coordinator for the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, said there will be many apples available for tasting.

“It is not a competition,” Veldman said. “These are all apples that grow within an hour’s drive from the market. Everyone at the market is welcome to try them.”

According to the City of Bloomington Web Site, there will be about 10 varieties of apples from six local farms. 

Vernon Sigman is one of the farmers participating in the apple tasting. Sigman’s wife, Pat Sigman, said she is excited about the apple tasting.

She said she believes that her husband’s passionate work makes the apples taste great. 

“Vernon used to be a dairy farmer. Now he retired from that, and he’s got an orchard and a garden,” Pat Sigman said. “He really puts a lot of time into both of them.”

Vernon Sigman’s featured apples will be Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Arkansas Black and Winesap. 

“The Arkansas Black’s color is such deep red it looks black,” Pat Sigman said.  
Veldman said that the event is in its sixth year and that it usually has a lot of attendees. 

“It is a fun opportunity to compare and taste apples,” Veldman said. “All the apples for tasting will also be on sale. So if you like them you can buy them.”