Ready to taste that first mouth-watering tomato freshly picked from the vine? Or those early sweet peas, squash, and green beans? Then the Summer Street Stroll Farmers’ Market will be the place to be, starting on June 2 at the June Jaunt events at Jack Kilby Square and continuing in June and July in conjunction with the Great Bend City Band Summer Concert series on Thursday evenings.
Now, the market organizers are currently seeking a variety of interested vendors to participate in the Summer Street Stroll. There will be no charge for participating vendors but everyone will need to register to receive an assigned and approved vendor space.
The farmers’ market focus is locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, garden products and baked goods, locally produced crafts, handmade items, and area artists’ creations from ceramics to paintings and other arts. Expansion to other items or other commercial products may be considered for following years but are not part of the 2012 farmers’ market project.
Barton County Health Educator Janel Rose and Great Bend’s Community Coordinator Christina Hayes have been working together to enhance the local farmers market with the added Thursday evening option in collaboration with Retailers Thirsty Thursdays and the City Band Concerts at Jack Kilby Square. “This will give working individuals the opportunity to get fresh produce, shop local retailers, and catch the community concert,” Hayes said.
“This opportunity to increase farmers’ market days also means giving people more access to healthy foods which is part of the Health Department’s Chronic Disease Risk Reduction program work,” Rose said. “We invite local vendors to contact us about participating at the June Jaunt events and the Summer Street Stroll Farmers’ Market.”
Rose said the Thursday event is in addition to the traditional farmers market that sets up in the Great Bend Public Library parking lot. “This is just another opportunity for folks to have access to locally grown, healthy fruits and vegetables.”
Contact Hayes at city offices 620-793-4111 or e-mail chayes@greatbendks.net for vendor information for June Jaunt and Janel Rose at Barton County Health Department 620-793-1902 or e-mail health@bartoncounty.org for registration and application for the Summer Street Stroll Farmers’ Market.