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June 20. 2012 8:48PM
The locally grown strawberries were a popular item at the first Effingham Outdoor Market held this past Saturday on Route 25. (Larissa Mulkern/Union Leader Correspondent)
Vendors find a hot new spot to sell local items in Effingham
The locally grown strawberries were a popular item at the first Effingham Outdoor Market held this past Saturday on Route 25. (Larissa Mulkern/Union Leader Correspondent)
EFFINGHAM — Customers quickly gobbled up the points of fresh, locally grown strawberries sold at the inaugural Effingham Outdoor Market, held this past Saturday on Route 25.
“We had fresh strawberries — they went like gangbusters,” said Market Manager Jim Morris. The new market includes products from local farms, from produce to meats, dairy, and hand-made crafts and clothing. Thus far, a dozen vendors are signed on and many will sell goods through the market’s closing date on Oct. 6.
Morris said the market grew after members of the Effingham Agricultural Commission started talking about how to support local farms. From there, a market steering committee was formed. Members distributed Outdoor Market flyers and invitations to farmers and vendors in a 30-mile radius, and a dozen signed on. Morris agreed there was a renewed consumer interest in locally grown foods, including organics or those foods grown with less pesticides than huge commercial farms.
“We think there is a resurgence,” Morris said. “Our first mission was to support local farms and we also wanted to support small crafting businesses. We think locally grown is usually less intense in terms of using fertilizer and pesticides. Most small farms use their own manures. Another benefit is none of the farm products is traveling that 3,000 miles from California. The small farmer works a lot harder than a commercial farmer just to make a go of it.”
Morris isn’t a farmer, but he does create woodcrafts, like boxes and baby rattles, which he sells at the market.
The market is held Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Boyle’s Family Market property on Route 25.
The application fee for vendors is $10, with a weekly tent fee of $5.
Morris said the funds raised will be spent on more advertising and signs.
“We would like Effingham to be known as a place to go to get fresh foods,” he said. “Effingham isn’t a well-known town, but it’s a nice town.”
For more information on the market, email Morris at jim@libacon.com, or call him at 539-7686.
lmulkern@newstote.com
“We had fresh strawberries — they went like gangbusters,” said Market Manager Jim Morris. The new market includes products from local farms, from produce to meats, dairy, and hand-made crafts and clothing. Thus far, a dozen vendors are signed on and many will sell goods through the market’s closing date on Oct. 6.
Morris said the market grew after members of the Effingham Agricultural Commission started talking about how to support local farms. From there, a market steering committee was formed. Members distributed Outdoor Market flyers and invitations to farmers and vendors in a 30-mile radius, and a dozen signed on. Morris agreed there was a renewed consumer interest in locally grown foods, including organics or those foods grown with less pesticides than huge commercial farms.
“We think there is a resurgence,” Morris said. “Our first mission was to support local farms and we also wanted to support small crafting businesses. We think locally grown is usually less intense in terms of using fertilizer and pesticides. Most small farms use their own manures. Another benefit is none of the farm products is traveling that 3,000 miles from California. The small farmer works a lot harder than a commercial farmer just to make a go of it.”
Morris isn’t a farmer, but he does create woodcrafts, like boxes and baby rattles, which he sells at the market.
The market is held Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Boyle’s Family Market property on Route 25.
The application fee for vendors is $10, with a weekly tent fee of $5.
Morris said the funds raised will be spent on more advertising and signs.
“We would like Effingham to be known as a place to go to get fresh foods,” he said. “Effingham isn’t a well-known town, but it’s a nice town.”
For more information on the market, email Morris at jim@libacon.com, or call him at 539-7686.
lmulkern@newstote.com
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