BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market is more than a fresh food market. It’s a health-affirming experience, bringing together vendors who provide unprocessed farm products, plants (potted, in soil blocks, and bare-root), value-added foods, home-based vendor foods, grown/raised and prepared at market foods, and, pet foods.
In addition to this, beginning in May and running through October, “A Fair of the Arts” will take place each second Saturday on Fernandez Plaza in front of City Hall. This is a time when craftsmen can sell the fruits of their labor to the fresh-foods crowd. The Midwest is famous for farmers’ markets, and Indiana has some great ones. Your Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market once ranked second on a list of the 10 Best Markets in Indiana.
Poseys and Pumpkins began in 1998 as a way for Kim Beesley-Shatto to stay home with her two daughters. Since then, there has been over an acre of greenhouses added, which are used for the production of plants and produce year around. Several acres of outdoor products and thousands of hanging baskets and mums along with annuals are grown every year. A son, Ethan was added in 2000, and Ralph Shatto left his job and came on board full-time. Come and partake of their Vegetables, Melons, Strawberries, and Cut Flowers during this Market season.
This Saturday, the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market welcomes Flamenco dancing sensation Ezra Martin to our Circle Stage. This performance begins at 10 a.m.
Mayor at the Market is a community outreach program that invites Market-goers to interact with the mayor and various department heads from the City of Bloomington government. Most Saturday mornings, either Mayor Hamilton, Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael, or one of nineteen department heads will be at the Farmers’ Market to answer resident questions and discuss issues of interest in the city.
This week, Beth Cate, corporation counsel from the City of Bloomington’s Legal Department will be greeting the public at the Market between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
The Farmers’ Market Advisory Council represents Market vendors, customers, and food and beverage artisans. The Council acts in an advisory capacity on policy matters relating to the Farmers’ Market. The next Meeting is Monday, May 15, 5:30-7 p.m.
