Jasper Farmers’ Market opens Saturday in new location
The Jasper Farmers’ Market continues to grow in popularity. So much so, that they had to move to the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, 100 West 3rd Avenue, for the 2022 season.
According to Market Master Joseph Huddleston, the number of vendors jumped from 24 in 2020 up to 40 in 2021 and that caused some congestion issues with the nearby River Centre, hotel and Jasper Train Depot.
Huddleston recognized that coming out of the pandemic likely drove up the number of vendors that joined the market last year.
“I anticipated the market to shrink considerably this year (2022), with last year being a fluke where a lot of vendors signed up to sell their pandemic hobbies,” he said. “Maybe those hobbies are permanent and maybe those vendors told their friends about the market, but we did not shrink this year.”
Fortunately, the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center agreed to give the market a try. Vendors will set up in the southeast portion of the parking lot at the cultural center and will be able to park in the back parking lot of Hosty’s. The city has also given the market access to the schoolhouse for bathrooms and another area for storage.
Here is a map with tentative vendors. For reference, the Anderson School House is adjacent to spot 43.
Here are some more details on the market for this year. Huddleston provided the answers to the questions below. They are lightly edited but otherwise, his words.
What can we expect different this year if anything?
Since we only sell what we grow there will not likely be much change in produce. However, there will be some new vendors. I believe we have someone that will be offering quail eggs regularly.
A returning vendor will be bringing freeze-dried foods, which is something I don’t recall ever seeing at the market and I am totally looking forward to samples.
Also, Wood Capitol Pizza will be participating this year and has created something like a breakfast calzone for the market. I have not seen it yet, but it sounds great.
Of course, our bakers are returning and will bring their pretzels, muffins, cookies, sweet rolls, and more.
We are also seeing more artists bring their designs to the market. This may sound peculiar, but technology has made this easy. Where a piece of art, like a painting, can be difficult to sell, these artists have their art applied to clothing and will be selling that.
New entertainment?
Entertainment is always difficult to come by, it can get hot. But I had a friend volunteer to work on something for me and it could fur real be a howl if it pants out. (Those are puns, if it works out it will make sense.)
Why do you think the market is important to the area?
Officially, “The market’s purpose is to provide income for local producers, fresh and local products for customers, and a gathering place to help create and develop a greater sense of community. It provides an opportunity for growers, bakers, crafters and artisans to sell goods grown, baked, and created by themselves or their immediate families.”
We are the starting point for many small businesses in the area. This includes my wife, who owns My Little Soap Shop & Paint your Pottery in Huntingburg. Not all may move on to have a brick-and-mortar presence but a couple have.
However, that hardly scratches the surface.
While out-of-town guests love the atmosphere, we are also many people’s weekend destination. Not just for the shopping but for the company.
My daughter has been coming to the market every Saturday since she was three but not as much now since she is a teenager. It was about five years ago when she broke down and cried on the last day. She was going to miss Doris.
Personally, I have become friends with all of these folks. Not just the vendors but also many of the customers.
We may not be family but we feel like something more than a community.
I try to capture that spirit in our morning videos, the goofy posts, and the stories shared.
I am just the current face of the market, but we all make up the market. I often say we are like a family reunion every Saturday…except you will like these people.
I hope to see everyone soon. Until then, don’t forget to be awesome.
