Farmer’s Market: A Step Back In Time

Regular vendors Bud and Millie Goforth weigh produce. – Photos by Jack Gurner

Kenny Harmon (right) talks gardens with Junior Cook at last Wednesday’s Farmers Market. Harmon has about 40 acres planted, half in melons. “You’d be surprised at how much you can sell on a good day,” he said.

Bennie Cole Taylor (right) negotiates a deal for some corn from Dr. Joe Walker.

Vendors sit in the shade of the century-old magnolia tree at the Water Valley Farmers Market. The every Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon market is located at the south end of Railroad Park.

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – There’s a time machine downtown that can take you back to an era when there was no fast food and people were interested in what they ate, where it came from, and how it tasted.

It’s called the Farmers Market and there can be found fresh local produce as well as a variety of arts and craft items, also made locally.

Farmers’ markets have been popping up all over the country in recent years, according to Mickey Howley, Water Valley Main Street Director and manager of the twice a  week market.

Howley said that while farmers’ markets are making a comeback other places, they never really stopped in the South. He noted that before the local market started three years ago, people would buy from produce vendors wherever they could find them.

And, that’s not counting the number of folks who had their own gardens and shared with their family and friends. Yalobusha Coun-tians have always known what people in other parts of the country are finding out, fresh produce tastes good and is good for you.

Even the Mississippi Department of Health and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture have teamed up and gotten involved. The Health Department is promoting farmers’ markets as a source of healthy foods and the Department of Agricul-tural is promoting local farmers.

Water Valley’s Farmers Market has a long tradition behind it. There are photographs of watermelons piled up for sale along Main Street from 120 years ago. Half a century ago, farmers parked downtown and sold produce right out of their pick-up truck beds. Thirty years ago the City built the covered shed east of the depot just for produce sellers.

The current vendors seem to agree that the latest incarnation of the market is located in just the right spot in the shade of a century-old magnolia tree at the south end of Railroad Park.

Wilbur Herring pointed to one of the low hanging limbs that bears scars from being run into by folks who were paying more attention to the wares than where they were walking.

Wilbur and his wife, Carline, are among the dozen or so vendors who can be found there almost every Saturday morning and most Wednesdays during the season. “We have a good time so we always come back,” he said.

“And the best part of it,” he added, “is the customers seem to appreciate it.”

One of those appreciative customers is Cynthia Spencer. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to buy fresh produce at reasonable prices from friendly people.”

Another is Lori Williamson, who married into a long-time farm family. She said that she appreciates being able to buy fresh veggies she didn’t have to raise herself.

One of the vendors who describes himself as a “Johnny come lately” is Dr. Joe Walker, who sat at the far north parking space just out of the shade of the magnolia tree. He left the shaded spots for those who were making all or part of their living at the market. “I’m just having fun,” he said.

“Dr. Joe” offered a bonus to his customers. Buy his produce and get a free rose. One young man who looked to be about ten years old bought four ears of corn and picked out a rose for his mother.

As he waited on another customer, Walker acknowledged that eating fresh foods is healthy. “At least until you put all that good stuff in with them,” he said with a grin.

Next door to Walker, teen Katie McAnally was selling cucumbers and beans. Half of what she makes is going to her college fund. “Granddaddy likes to grow it and I like to sell it,” she said.

One of the more serious sellers is Kenny Harmon, who has about 40 acres planted, half in melons. He said that the market had been good for him. “You’d be surprised at how much you can sell on a good day.”

Not far from Harmon is Grace Kerr who offers a variety of homemade breads. She brings about 18 loaves each of white and wheat as well as sweet breads and brownies. “I’ve enjoyed seeing everyone,” she said and added that she had done well at the market.

As have Bud and Millie Goforth who offered cucumbers, blackberries, apples, peaches and a few tomatoes that Bud was carefully arranging as he spoke. “It’s been good,” he said.

At the edge of the shade, Jerry Davis had finished a purchase and was surveying the scene. “I see a good many young people here,” he commented on the children playing under the magnolia tree. “Maybe they’ll learn something.”

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The Farmers Market is open every Saturday morning from 8 until 11 and Wednesday afternoon from 3 until 6.