Farmers’ Market opens for season on Saturday

Marcia Veldman has been shopping at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market since she was a college student at IU in 1985. This season will be no different.

“There are so many wonderful reasons to shop at the market and to buy locally raised products,” said Veldman, who is now the market’s coordinator. “It enriches your life.”

Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market will kick off its 2010 season this weekend. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the Showers Common next to City Hall, Veldman said, and will include products from various Indiana farmers.
 
“Every year we have new farm vendors,” Veldman said. “It is such a thriving marketplace with customers who are eager to try new things. The farmers are always looking for interesting products to sell.”

Last year, the market had 148 farm vendors from 28 counties in Indiana. Veldman said vendors will be selling everything from tofu food to flowers and vegetables to prepared food, such as tamales, smoothies and pastries.

Marble Hill Farm of Bloomington is one of the 130 farms that have already signed up to sell at the market.

Whitney Schletel and her husband Kip Schletel, both professors at IU, own Marble Hill Farm and have been vendors at the market for 12 years. They use natural procedures with their cows and sell farm-raised beef products.

“We also really enjoy providing the community with what we call a value-added product,” she said.

Veldman said the market also includes entertainment, and this weekend includes David Wierhake Zydeco blues accordion and Sarah’s Swing Set.

There will also be a Tuesday Market from June to September at Sixth and Madison streets, Veldman said.

Veldman said she also likes to shop at Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market to support local farmers and because it decreases the transportation miles that her food travels.

“There are no downsides,” she said. “Purchasing those farm-fresh products is surely the main event at the market. That’s why people come.”