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First Farmer's Market in St. David deemed a success
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| Good selection: Kathy Dalrymple of St. David works the spinning wheel Saturday at the Farmers Market. (Chris Dabovich photo) |
Chris Dabovich
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
The inaugural St. David Farmers Market Saturday was deemed a success by both attendees and event organizers.
The market, which will be held weekly each Saturday through October and in partnership with St. David School, is the first of its kind in the state, said Valerie McCaffrey, chairman of Baja Arizona Sustainable Agriculture, (B.A.S.A.) an educational non-profit that promotes local organic food production and marketing in southern or "lower" Arizona (south of the Gila River) by educating both consumers and producers. The market is an agriculture, health and community development project, said McCaffrey.
Attendance was brisk throughout opening day with customers eyeing and buying locally grown fresh produce, fresh eggs, goat's milk and an array goods, crafts and eats. There were also rabbits and chickens available.
Music by Little Homestead, a family country music trio filled the air as St. David Volunteer Fire Dept. offered up a barbecue lunch and helped keep the kids cooled down courtesy of their fire hose.
"We're really grateful for the school," said McCaffrey, who established the Bisbee and other farmer markets in Cochise County. "We think this will be good for the commuity," she said.
Thirty vendors offered their wares at the inaugural event, 28 representing the immediate area.
New Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture Miley Gonzalez, who hails from San Simon, attended the opening ceremony. Customers and vendors alike appeared to enjoy the event and said they looked forward to the market improving with each week.
Shirley Hammil of St. David said the market, in addition to availability of the home-grown products, said the event promotes community cohesivenss.
"There's not a lot to do so a little interaction helps bring the community together; I think it's great," she said.
Walter Tinnin, who with partner James Gillham sold fresh produce, concurred. "It has been great," said Tinnin. "They did a tremendous job settig up and we ended up with a very nice crowd."
Sharon Good of Pearce agreed. "It's great," she said. "I'm glad they're doing it.
McCaffrey hopes that each week will bring more farmers. "This was a huge success," she said. "We want people to grow more and we want people to eat more vegetables. We want to promote vegetable excitement," she said.
For more information about BASA, (it rhymes with "casa"), and its programs, including a Local Food Producers Directory and a calendar of Local Food or Agriculture Events go to www.bajaaz.org or contact Valerie.Mccaffrey@bajaaz.org and 520.378.2973.
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
The inaugural St. David Farmers Market Saturday was deemed a success by both attendees and event organizers.
The market, which will be held weekly each Saturday through October and in partnership with St. David School, is the first of its kind in the state, said Valerie McCaffrey, chairman of Baja Arizona Sustainable Agriculture, (B.A.S.A.) an educational non-profit that promotes local organic food production and marketing in southern or "lower" Arizona (south of the Gila River) by educating both consumers and producers. The market is an agriculture, health and community development project, said McCaffrey.
Attendance was brisk throughout opening day with customers eyeing and buying locally grown fresh produce, fresh eggs, goat's milk and an array goods, crafts and eats. There were also rabbits and chickens available.
Music by Little Homestead, a family country music trio filled the air as St. David Volunteer Fire Dept. offered up a barbecue lunch and helped keep the kids cooled down courtesy of their fire hose.
"We're really grateful for the school," said McCaffrey, who established the Bisbee and other farmer markets in Cochise County. "We think this will be good for the commuity," she said.
Thirty vendors offered their wares at the inaugural event, 28 representing the immediate area.
New Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture Miley Gonzalez, who hails from San Simon, attended the opening ceremony. Customers and vendors alike appeared to enjoy the event and said they looked forward to the market improving with each week.
Shirley Hammil of St. David said the market, in addition to availability of the home-grown products, said the event promotes community cohesivenss.
"There's not a lot to do so a little interaction helps bring the community together; I think it's great," she said.
Walter Tinnin, who with partner James Gillham sold fresh produce, concurred. "It has been great," said Tinnin. "They did a tremendous job settig up and we ended up with a very nice crowd."
Sharon Good of Pearce agreed. "It's great," she said. "I'm glad they're doing it.
McCaffrey hopes that each week will bring more farmers. "This was a huge success," she said. "We want people to grow more and we want people to eat more vegetables. We want to promote vegetable excitement," she said.
For more information about BASA, (it rhymes with "casa"), and its programs, including a Local Food Producers Directory and a calendar of Local Food or Agriculture Events go to www.bajaaz.org or contact Valerie.Mccaffrey@bajaaz.org and 520.378.2973.
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