News

Columbia Farmers Market has busy opening day

By Kathryn Darnell

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Chilly conditions made little difference to Missouri farmers Saturday as they brought their wares to the opening day of the Columbia Farmers Market.

Two rows of pristine white tents covered vendor tables laden with honeycomb, fresh greens, mushrooms, cheeses, eggs, fresh baked goods, peacock quills and more.

The aroma of pie, coffee and herbs was in the air, and Spanish guitar music played in the background.

“It’s been a long winter,” said longtime customer Ene-Kaja Chippendale.

“This is my favorite way to spend Saturday morning,” she added enthusiastically,

The weather didn’t scare away customers. Kicking off its 28th year, the market at Clinkscales and Ash streets behind the Activity and Recreation Center attracted approximately 850 people from 8 a.m. to noon.

Victoria Day, volunteer coordinator for Sustainable Farms and Communities, said the number of customers was good for so early in the year, but she looked up at somber clouds and added, “sun would be nice.”

Despite the gray skies, some vendors said customers were buying more than expected. Dan Kuebler, who was selling spinach at his stall, The Salad Garden, had already sold out of his 60 pounds of spinach by 10:30 a.m..

“It looks like we’re going to have one of our best first days,” Kuebler said.

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Campus dining straight from the farm

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Not long ago, St. Louis farmer Dave Thies felt slighted by produce buyers who turned up their noses at his homegrown fruits and vegetables in favor of California produce.

Attitudes are changing.

Today, Thies sells produce directly to some of St. Louis’ fanciest restaurants where chefs know the best flavor comes from fruits and vegetables picked ripe and served fresh. Professionals preparing meals at University of Missouri-Columbia dining halls also have added Thies’ produce to their menus.

Beginning this semester, U.S. Foodservice/Allen Division of St. Louis agreed to deliver Thies’ produce along with other fare to MU’s five student dining halls as part of a MU Extension program to connect Missouri food producers with restaurants, grocers and other markets. The goal of the project, dubbed “Farm to MU,” is to support Missouri farmers and put money in the local economy while promoting a healthier lifestyle, said Mary Hendrickson, an MU Extension assistant professor of rural sociology.

“We are excited to have a food service distributor who is willing to pick up local produce,” she said. “All of the people in campus dining have worked hard to realize the benefits. They have been forward thinking, which has made all this possible.”

Each week, U.S. Foodservice provides MU dining services with a list of produce Thies has available. Chefs pick their produce and plan their menus. To date, MU students have enjoyed homegrown eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, green peppers and cucumbers, said Sandy Perley, purchasing manager for MU’s dining services.

“One of the biggest challenges for us was finding a distributor who could go to a farm and pick up the produce and bring it to us,” Perley said. “That’s often a piece that is missing” when trying to connect institutions such as hospitals and universities with local farmers.

Another challenge for Perely is staying within a budget. MU dining services oversees five all-you-can-eat dining halls on campus that serve more than 5,500 students. Meal tickets are sold to students in advance, so Perley has to be careful when ordering food.

“If we go over budget,” she said. “We have to absorb the cost.”

Hendrickson said the idea of serving Missouri produce in MU dining halls began in October 2005 with the delivery of locally grown apples to the Plaza 900 dining facility. There chefs already were using produce, such as cucumbers and tomatoes, from MU Bradford Research and Extension Center farm east of Columbia.

Enthusiasm for the “Farm to MU” project took root in March when MU dining halls participated in a campus-wide celebration of locally produced food. During the “Taste of Missouri” event, students sampled pork raised in the Show-Me State as well as homegrown pecans, grapes, spinach and more.

Starting a Business

Dream of owning and running your own business? Starting a business can seem like a daunting task of rules and regulations. AgriMissouri and the Business Development staff at the Missouri Department of Agriculture can assist you in beginning your dream.


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Missouri Agribusiness Named Farm Direct Marketer of the Year

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Weston Red Barn Farm, located in Weston, Mo., was recently named the Farm Direct Marketer of the Year by the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) – a leader in promoting and fostering the growth of farm direct marketing. Steven and Cynthia Frey, AgriMissouri™ members and owners of Weston Red Barn Farm, were honored at a NAFDMA Convention in Wisconsin.

Weston Red Barn Farm is a children’s educational farm, pumpkin patch and orchard located in Weston, 20 minutes north of Kansas City. The farm offers children, families and groups the opportunity to experience the educational and recreational benefits of farming.

“Red Barn Farm is a shining example of education and agriculture. I am proud to have this facility in Missouri,” said Katie Smith, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. “Their commitment to agribusiness in Missouri is shown in their efforts to educate youth on the importance of agriculture in our state. The Weston Red Barn Farm offers an authentic view into the every day life of farming and sets an example for other agribusinesses.”

The farm operation began in 1990 and has grown to an educational experience for children and a place for families to enjoy a true farm setting.

“We strive to provide a non-commercial family setting that gets revisited every year creating a tradition for Missouri families,” said Steven Frey, owner of Weston Red Barn Farm. “In 2007, more than 18,000 children toured our farm with their classmates and thousands of families came to purchase peaches, corn, apples and pumpkins. We provide an entertaining educational experience for children and a place for families to enjoy an authentic farm setting in a safe, peaceful and non-commercial environment.”

For more information on Weston Red Barn Farm, visit www.westonredbarnfarm.com. To learn about other agribusinesses in the state, visit www.agrimissouri.com.