A booth at the farmers market–Photo by Brian Blakely
KERRY WAGUESPACK
Staff Reporter | @latech.edu
The Ruston Farmers Market Saturday began its seventh season of selling fresh, local produce and other products to the Ruston community.
The farmers market will be open every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. until noon from now until Dec. 8 said Jean McWeeney, president of the Board.
There are big plans in the works for the Ruston Farmers Market, McWeeny said. With renovations on a new location in the works, they plan to move into an old warehouse near the historic fire station in downtown Ruston.
Hope Crawford (left) and Lillian Crawford (right) make their own glaciers at the College of Engineering and Science booth–Photo by Brian Blakely
She said this was made possible through grants the organization has received recently to improve the market.
“Every week there are a wide variety of goods, anywhere from your normal fruits and vegetables all the way to homemade sodas and dog treats,” McWeeney said.
Debbie Sadler has been selling organic garlic at the market for the past five years. Sadler said she is always able to sell every piece of garlic she plant for the market every year.
“Everyone I sell to either buys from me at the farmer’s market or I have made contact with through the market,” Sadler said.
A small bowl of garlic being sold by Debbie Sadler at the farmers market–Photo by Brian Blakely
Hayden Legg is more of newcomer to the market with this being the first year that he has had his own booth. Legg sells dog treats that he makes from some of the different sodas that he brews at home.
“We originally were brewing beer, but since we can’t sell beer at the market, we will stick to our sodas and dog treats,” Legg said.
In the coming weeks, Legg plans to expand on the flavors of soda they brew to match the seasons.
Not all of the booths at the market were there to sell something. One booth was operated by members of the Louisiana Tech Engineering and Science Association. Luke Villermin, a junior in mechanical engineering, said the organization plans to have a different engineering experiment to show children every week. The booth will be run by students from the College of Engineering and Science.
Many of the people in attendance are looking for fresh produce like Erin Crawford, who has been attending the market since last fall.
Mary Virginia Adams, age 3, Student at the Early Childhood Development Center, presents her art work–Photo by Brian Blakely
“The availability of the fresh vegetables is what keeps me coming back every week,” Crawford said.
Ginny Bales has been coming to the Ruston Farmers Market just about every weekend since it opened in 2008.
“This is the easiest place for me to get the fresh veggies that I use in my cooking throughout the week,” Bales said.