PEA RIDGE, Ark. -- Carol Roper is ready to get the Pea Ridge Farmers Market up and running.
Mother Nature has been fairly cooperative, with a good amount of rainfall and sun. Roper, the market's coordinator, hopes to open the market for the season on Sunday, May 7.
Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. If a sufficient number of vendors can be secured for Thursdays, the market may be open on those days as well.
The market is located at 197 Slack Street, Pea Ridge.
Roper has five vendors lined up for Sunday's operation, including two produce vendors, one that will sell pork, beef, chicken and eggs; one woods craft vendor, and Roper of Heritage Gardens, who will sell jams and jellies, bandanas, and produce.
The focus this year will be on produce, as the market didn't have enough to keep up with demand last year, she added.
Any vendor from McDonald County is welcome to join the market.
Frequent customers will enjoy spring crops like broccoli and cabbage in May; with strawberries, blueberries and blackberries in late May and June.
"By July, I expect the tomatoes, squash and cucumbers to come roaring in for the summer," Roper said.
As a local farmer who has experienced a nice, mild spring so far, Roper already has her cool weather garden planted, and she's preparing to plant some for summer.
"I know it is way too early, but I am chomping at the bit to get started," she said.
As a farmer, she's busy cultivating five gardens, with leaves covering four of them. That is how she fights weeds, she said.
With hope, the warm, spring temperatures will continue and local gardens will continue to flourish. All vendors will be welcome within the USDA guidelines, especially produce vendors. Small-operation vendors are also welcome.
Anyone interested in signing up as a vendor for the upcoming season may contact Roper through her Facebook page, Pea Ridge Farmers Market, or her Heritage Gardens Facebook page.
General News on 03/30/2017