Indoor farmers market kicks off

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Chris Valentine likes to buy what food she can from local farmers.

That way, she is supporting agriculture in her community, and she has a better idea of how her food was grown or raised.

“You have to buy food,” she said. “And I would rather support these guys.”

Living near Jonesville, she visits farmers markets in both Columbus and Seymour during the summer months, picking up fresh, homegrown produce along with other items, such as cheese, eggs, bread and meat.

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But in the cold winter months, it is much more difficult to find such opportunities. Outdoor farmers markets are closed, and it’s too cold for anything to grow.

With that in mind, a couple of Jackson County farmers decided it would be a good idea to try to establish an indoor winter farmers market.

Now, thanks to the recent expansion of a local business, Valentine and others who want to purchase locally grown or made food can do so once a month through April at the new location of The Herbal Alternative at 2015 N. Ewing St. in Rockford. That business is owned and operated by Krystal Harrell.

The trial winter farmers market is open from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. The first one was in November.

Products that may be available include hydroponic salad greens, 100 percent grass-fed and GMO-free beef, whole wheat flour, popcorn, GMO-free chicken, pork, lamb and turkey, eggs and gluten-free bread and other baked goods.

On Tuesday, Valentine stopped by the farmers market to get farm-fresh eggs from pastured laying hens at Plumer & Bowers Farmstead near Cortland and checked out meat offerings from Nightfall Farm in Crothersville. Last month, she left with a few pounds of popcorn.

Nate Brownlee, who owns and operates Nightfall Farm with his wife, Liz, said as a Community Supported Agriculture farm, they deliver their products to customers who are a member of their CSA.

“So last winter, we were making deliveries to Krystal’s old store, and it made sense to see if we could get more food to more customers and get something going on a trial basis,” he said of starting the winter farmers market.

The success of the Seymour Area Farmers Market in the summer led the Brownlees and Tricia Bowers, who operates the Plumer & Bowers Farmstead with her husband, Dennis, to believe a winter farmers market would be well received, too.

“We love selling at the Seymour farmers market during the warm months, so we wanted to know, ‘Is there demand for a year-round farmers market here?'” Bowers said. “People want to eat good food from local farms all year, and the best part is that farmers in our community can grow good food year-round.”

Brownlee said the Seymour Area Farmers Market has become their biggest selling location. They also set up in Columbus and Madison and even participate in a winter market in Columbus at FairOaks Mall.

“Here in Seymour, we’ve been kicking around this idea for years and even thought if we could set up in some of the empty storefronts downtown, we could showcase some of those buildings,” he said. “But no one has wanted to do that yet.”

Bowers said The Herbal Alternative is a good location to set up in because customers who are buying herbs, vitamins and supplements usually also like to eat healthy, organic food.

“We are able to share customers,” she said.

Harrell said it always has been one of her goals to get clients to buy and eat locally produced food and more importantly to know more about what they are eating.

“Ask questions,” she said. “Ask them, ‘Do you spread pesticides?'”

Harrell also had Bowers and Liz Brownlee come speak at one of her health and weight management classes.

“The farmers market and its participants and our store are on the same page when it comes to providing the community a choice when it comes to our health,” Harrell said. “Most times, that choice starts on our plates.”

With two or three vendors, Brownlee said it can be difficult to attract a big crowd, but he hopes to see more vendors sign up for the three remaining dates this year — Feb. 20, March 20 and April 17 — and help expand the market for next winter.

Anyone interested in selling at the trial winter farmers market must get approval from the Jackson County Health Department first and should contact Tricia Bowers at 812-216-4602 or Liz Brownlee at 317-258-5217 for directions on how to get started.

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Trial winter farmers market

Offerings include salad greens and other fresh vegetables, 100 percent grass-fed and GMO-free beef, whole wheat flour, popcorn and GMO-free chicken, pork and eggs.

When: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month. Remaining dates are Feb. 20, March 20 and April 17.

Location: The Herbal Alternative, 2015 N. Ewing St. (State Road 11) in Rockford.

Anyone interested in selling at the trial winter farmers market must get approval from the Jackson County Health Department first and should contact Tricia Bowers at 812-216-4602 or Liz Brownlee at 317-258-5217 for directions on how to get started.

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