Farmer’s Market Opens Season
Stanley Farmer’s Market kicked off its new season on Thursday, June 20, and there were some great finds at the market. The market is held every Thursday, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Wilson Park in Stanley.
What makes Stanley’s market special? Fresh, local produce and other home-canned and home-baked products, most made with local ingredients can be found. You will also find home-made pickles, salsas, jams and jellies, fresh baked bread, cookies and bars, and several types of non-food products available all season long.
Many of the local produce items can be picked for only a short time, as some crops prefer cool weather, and the long hot summer days cause them to go to seed. Others, like tomatoes, peppers, and squash, have a fairly long growing season, so they won’t be ready until the later part of the summer. So, what does “seasonal local produce” look like in North Dakota? Some of the products you might find in June include radishes, lettuce, spinach, and early peas. More peas, along with beans, broccoli, beets, zucchini, and carrots should be available in July. Buyers start to see potatoes, more carrots, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and sweet corn in August. In September, the annual Harvest Fest should be awash with potatoes, onions, squash, pumpkins, and still more tomatoes and peppers.
By early October, most gardens must shut down due to freezing temperatures. Most of the common garden veggies we eat are annual plants that die each year and must be grown from seed the next year. They take a variety of days to mature, from as little as 30 for radishes and spinach, to as long as 100 days or more for squash, pumpkins, and even some tomatoes and peppers.
Some of the common fruits come from perennial plants that come back year after year. These include raspberries, chokecherries, rhubarb, and sometimes strawberries. But growing these is not without challenges. Birds love fresh ripe strawberries and juneberries as much as we do. Insects can damage or destroy raspberries and even rhubarb. Add in the unpredictable North Dakota weather, and gardening has its share of challenges.
These are just some of the reasons why fresh LOCAL produce is hard to find in North Dakota. But it will be here this summer, at the Stanley Farmer’s Market. Don’t miss out on the freshest veggies around. Make it part of your weekly schedule to stop at Wilson Park on Main Street in Stanley. The market is under the pavilion and is open every Thursday rain or shine.
Special events this year include a Farmers Market on July 9 at the Mountrail County South Complex during Achievement Days. They will also hold their market downtown on August 6 as part of Crazy Days. Harvest Fest will be held Saturday, September 19 at the South Complex. Kids’ Markets will be held on the first Thursday of each month.
If you’re looking for more information on how to get involved with the market, you can contact stanleyfarmersmarket@gmail.com or follow their Facebook page at Stanley, N.D. Farmer’s Market.