Market may be officially over, but growers still plan to sell

By KYRA WAGNER

FOR THE HOMER NEWS

Yes, the Homer Farmers Market is “officially” over. No more credit card machine, no more music, no more Market memorabilia.

But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a place to get fresh and local. Our growers still have plenty to offer. Robert Heimbach for instance, has no idea when he will run out of cabbage, carrots and beets. As Robert eloquently put it, “I ain’t quitting. I don’t have the luxury of quitting.”

Neither does Bob Durr. He still has tons of squash and pumpkins and more, so he will be out at the Market site until the weather chases him in to the Wild Berry Emporium on Saturdays.

Emily of Twitter Creek estimates she will continue selling through October. She will be at the Market on the regular Saturday times, but also Wednesdays since she makes deliveries for the Kenai Peninsula Food Hub on Wednesdays anyway.

Dan and Luba also are planning to be at the Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays for at least another couple of weeks. Paul and Jen of WillGrow Farm say they still have an abundance of celery, carrots and zucchini (they’ve never had a zucchini year like this one) so they will be selling on the Food Hub as well as the Market as if nothing has changed.

Chmielowiec will have an ample booth at the Wild Berry Emporium selling their pies and sweets and any leftover veggies. Jenny from Blood Sweat and Food Farm is looking forward to selling tomatoes and eggs and chickens directly from their farm or the Food Hub. Depending on sales, she might be found as well at the Wild Berry Emporium.

Honey will be at Wild Berry. Sweet Berries Jams and Jellies will be at the Market. Marsha plans to be at the Market for a couple more weeks in solidarity with the other vendors — unless her son gives her a solid date for his October wedding. Then she is out of here.

The point is that between the Market location, the online Food Hub and Wild Berry, we still have a thriving local food infrastructure. Pick your favorite and eat well.

Kyra Wagner is the coordinator for Sustainable Homer and the Homer Farmers Market’s biggest fan.