By David Hayes
Even in a steady, light rain, hardy Dallas residents braved the elements to explore the return of the city’s Farmer’s Market May 4.
Like many other ventures, Dallas’s Farmers Market fell victim to the COVID pandemic and was cancelled in 2020, said Mikayla Slawosky, farmers market Manager, and city of Dallas Agribusiness Development Coordinator.
“We’re very excited to have it back,” she said, explaining the farmers market went on hiatus during the pandemic due to social restrictions, causing people to be less comfortable being out in groups. That made it harder for them (vendors) to thrive. A move to the Academy Building didn’t help, which proved to be harder to access for some patrons.
“There just wasn’t enough support for it,” Slawosky said.
She said behind the scenes there was a growing buzz for its return. The city of Dallas, the Dallas Downtown Association and the Chamber of Commerce all chipped in to fund Slawosky’s position, because they felt really strongly the city needed the farmers market, she said.
For its debut, the market featured 11 vendors. However, it didn’t kick off without a few hitches.
“People had to drop out because it’s colder than usual and crops aren’t ready,” Slawosky said, adding even the cos-players in Star Wars costumes were a no-show (with a tie in to the May the 4th date). But Slawosky didn’t let the hiccups ruin her sunny disposition. “That’s just the nature of farmers markets. Rain and all, we have a really good turnout. I’m super happy to see the community come out.”
Shopper Sherry Bullard, of Dallas, who had filled her bag with purchases including sourdough bread and spicy salad micro greens, was excited the farmers market was back.
Slawosky confirmed there’s plans to expand the market as the season progresses and more vendors join.
“The hope is to get more vendors to join as the season progresses. We’re leaving the vendor application open. The process looks a little different for folks selling farm direct goods versus crafters. We prioritize leaving space for our farmers,” she said.
JoAnn Beal, who had participated in past farmers markets with produce from Beal Christmas Tree Farm, was offering up a different bounty this go-around. Retired from the Christmas trees business, Beal was instead selling the leftover baskets her produce were delivered in, which proved to be a hot seller.
“I love that it’s back. I think it’s great for the community. I mean look at all the people here on a rainy Saturday,” Beal said as the rail continued to run off from her canopy.
The problem, she admitted, her baskets may prove so popular, she’ll sell out before the season progresses very far. The market will be every first and third Saturday of the month through Oct. 19. Vendors like Jennifer Erdmann will use that time to expand the offerings from her Double E Ranch, located just up the top of Oakdale Road.
Initially she offered plant starts of tomatoes, mint and hot pepper from her booth and plans to add throughout summer more vegetables from their garden, probably as many as 30 to 40 plants.
“The response was better than I expected, even with the rain. I’m a little bit shocked that people came out in the numbers they have. We’ve done really well. We’ve been busy all morning,” Erdmann added.
To entice additional shoppers, Slawosky said Dallas set up its market to accept SNAP benefits.
“We have a program funded through Salem Health and Dallas Community Foundation to offer a smaller amount of market match for people to use SNAP,” she said.
This article first appeared on The Polk County Itemizer-Observer and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.