Customers appreciated at Charles City Farmers Market

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

“For as hot as it was, people did show up,” commented Elaine Scott of Orchard, sitting under the shade of a popup canopy at the Charles City Farmers Market late Wednesday afternoon.

Elaine and her husband, Phillip, had one of several booths at the market. They were selling mostly garden produce, along with some baked goods and canned items, but there were also booths selling clothing and other homemade wares, and one offering information on how to handle and use fresh produce.

Elaine said they had been pretty busy during the afternoon. Although they sell their produce at almost every one of the twice-weekly Charles City markets, she said she thought about not coming on Wednesday because of the forecast of temperatures in the 90s.

“It turned out really good,” she said. “If it hadn’t been for that breeze we would have been in trouble. That really helped.”

Anne Litterer, the Buy.Eat.Live Healthy program assistant with Floyd County ISU Extension and Outreach, was asking passers-by if they needed information on how to clean and store fresh fruits and vegetables.

Her booth, in bright Iowa State cardinal and gold colors, also offered other information, a chance to register for door prizes and free plastic pizza cutters for those interested.

The Buy.Eat.Live program helps participants practice cooking, meal planning, label reading and physical activity to make healthy habits easier. It’s part of the Extension Service’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Programs that are designed to reach limited resource audiences, especially youth and families with young children.

Litterer said she had about 50 people stop by her booth during the afternoon Wednesday.

Just a ways down the Central Park sidewalk along Blunt Street, Community Development Director Mark Wicks was handing out treats and letting people spin a wheel for prizes.

Wednesday was Customer Appreciation Day at the farmers market, and in addition to the free treats, live music was provided by local band Waypoint.

Customer Appreciation Day will also be held at the farmers market this Saturday morning, again with treats, Waypoint and a chance to win prizes.

Wicks said he went through almost an entire large cooler of cookies and bars Wednesday afternoon.

In addition to kitchen-related prizes, people spinning the wheel could win $3 or $5 vouchers that they could spend at the market.

“It’s nice because the money goes right back to the venders,” Wicks said.

The Charles City Farmers Market is open Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 to 6 and Saturday mornings from 9 to noon, from mid-May to mid-October. This year because of the coronavirus people are asked to observe social distancing.