Farmer's market is back with fresh fare

• Farmer's market

However you spell it, the farmer's market has fresh sweet peas.

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The St. Paul Farmer’s Market has started up in Rosemount again. Every Tuesday throughout the summer the market will open in the Rosemount Community Center parking lot, bursting with fresh produce.

During the market’s first week sellers had fresh-picked strawberries, lettuce, radishes, a variety of fresh herbs and more. And that’s just the beginning said Jack Gerten, market manager.

Gerten said the weekly market will supply fresh seasonal produce to Rosemount residents. In addition sellers will have honey, bakery items, eggs and meat.

“We’re looking forward to a good year,” said Gerten.

Debbie Blom shopped the market on Tuesday looking for peas.

“They’re so good,” she said.

Blom said she loves fresh vegetables and likes to get them from local farmers. Although she lives in Apple Valley she visits the Rosemount market weekly.

People are looking from locally grown food more these days said Gerten. So satellite markets like Rosemount have proven popular in recent years.

“People want to know where and who their food is coming from,” said Gerten.

Each year the Rosemount market gets a little bigger. He said they had a few hundred people pass through Tuesday and expect each week to draw in more people.

“It’s a matter of getting the word out that the market is open,” said Gerten.

The markets provide a unique opportunity for local vendors to sell directly to consumers as well. Bill Hinz, owner of Big Bull Jerky, said he enjoys meeting his customers and getting outside.

“We like it,” said Hinz.

The St. Paul Farmer’s Market is operated by the St. Paul Growers’ Association, Inc. The association allows only fresh, locally grown produce to be sold — directly from the grower to the consumer, according to the market’s web site. Besides its downtown St. Paul location, the market has satellite locations all over the Twin Cities including Rosemount.

Also available through market sellers are bakery goods, cheese, poultry, buffalo, venison, beef, pork, lamb, maple syrup, eggs, bagel sandwiches, honey, organic plants and produce, flowers, plants, shrubs and many other items.

The Rosemount Farmer’s Market will be open 2 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Rosemount Community Center Parking lot. For more information visit www.stpaulfarmersmarket.com.

Tags: local news, news, rosemount, outdoors