Farmer's market draws weekly vendors, crowd

For anyone who supports the local food movement, loves fresh produce or simply wants an enjoyable weekend morning, the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market is the perfect venue.

The market, a weekend tradition for many locals, is held in the parking lot located next to the Showers Building on North Morton Street every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. until the end of November.

Vendors from all over the city and surrounding areas, including Sunset Acres, Traders Point, Tuttle Orchards, Liberty Pastures, May Creek and Amazen Graze farms, set up tents to sell their products to the public. This gives the community the chance to make connections with local farmers.

“We’ve been doing this since 2002,” local vendor Alyssa Lehman said. “It’s so much better than the food you get in the grocery store, and the connections you develop with the vendors keep people coming back.”

IU senior Kelsea Clark said she enjoys attending the market to support local farmers.
“I’ve been here three times this summer so far, and I would like to go more,” she said. “I think’s great to be a part of a community that supports this.”

“It’s the community growing food for the community,” said Alyssa Penning, IU graduate student and Bloomingfoods employee. “If you come to the market, you see who it affects, and how it affects them. Not to mention, the people. The people here are so generous. It definitely restores your faith in humanity by working with the
farmers’ market.”

The entire block is full of tantalizing scents and rich, vibrant colors from just about every type of produce you can imagine, including those you won’t find in your average grocery store. Products range from candy onions, heirloom cherry tomatoes and coneflowers to fresh African jade and Earligold this species apples. Some stalls offer fresh catnip, sorrel, young garlic, kohlrabi, mulberries, hickory nuts, watercress, garden phlox and worm castings.

Local restaurants such as Chocolate Moose, Scholars Inn Bakehouse and Feast also set up tents offering a variety of baked goods and sweet treats. A handful of vendors sell local honey, maple syrup, handmade pies, tamales, houseplants and
fresh flowers.

“I think we are so detached from where our food comes these days, and this brings it all back down to reality,” Penning said.

Many vendors encourage that more students should show up to support the market.
“I wish more students knew about the local food movement,” said Morgan Eldridge, IU senior and Bloomingfoods employee. “I don’t think many of them know how much people need help in this community. It would be great to see them not so confined to the campus.”

While you shop and experience everything the market has to offer, you can enjoy live entertainment, such as The 220 Breakers, an acoustic rock band, and Simply Strings, a high school string ensemble. You are also sure to find a multitude of stand-alone local acoustic musicians amongst the crowd.

IU alumna and market coordinating assistant Crystal Ritter said she thinks the market is a great place for Bloomington residents and visitors to gather and “hang out.”
“I think people will keep coming back, because it brings so many people together, and it’s just a great place to hang out,” Ritter said.

For more information, visit bloomington.in.gov/farmersmarket.