Farmers markets expand, some become mini-festivals
BY NATALIE MIKLES World Scene Writer
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
6/08/11 at 4:32 PM
It wasn't long ago that Tulsans were thrilled just to have a place to buy some homegrown tomatoes, farm-fresh eggs and cut flowers.
As the number of farmers markets grows, so do the expectations.
Now many farmers markets are like mini festivals, with music, art and food.
Megan Elias, manager of the Cherry Street Farmers Market, said last year's expansion, which blocked off a portion of 15th Street from Quaker to Rockford avenues, drove more traffic to the Saturday morning market. And with more traffic, market organizers were able to add more attractions, including a small music area with seating and a booth for children.
David Blue, events coordinator for the city of Broken Arrow, said customers were also wanting more than just herbs and asparagus, though they want those, too.
"I have a chef that sells Greek recipe breads, pastries and desserts," Blue said.
Beef, poultry, lamb and pork have also been popular at the Broken Arrow Farmers Market.
The biggest growth area at Cherry Street is the addition of several dairy and meat vendors.
"Customers are looking for organic milk, cheese and beef," Elias said.
Connie Arnold of the Mayes County Farmers Market in Pryor said customers want more specialized products, like Oklahoma-native plants, which they are carrying, and edible flowers and unique lettuces.
In keeping with the festival-atmosphere trend, the Mayes County market has also added Art in the Market, featuring a new artist each week.
Farmers markets
Bartlesville Farmers Market
Opens Saturday
8:30 to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays
Frank Phillips Park at Frank Phillips Boulevard and Keeler Street
Broken Arrow Farmers Market
Open
8 a.m. to noon Saturdays
418 S. Main St. in Broken Arrow
Brookside Farmers Market
Opens Wednesday
8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays
Food Pyramid parking lot, 39th Street and Peoria Avenue
Main Street Farmers Market in Chelsea
Opens Saturday
8 a.m. to noon
Sixth Street (Main) and Route 66
Cherry Street Farmers Market
Open
7 to 11 a.m. Saturdays
15th Street, just east of Peoria Avenue
Claremore Farmers Market
Saturday market opens May 14
Wednesday market opens mid-June
7 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays
Northeast corner of Expo Center parking lot, 400 Veterans Parkway
Cleveland Farmers Market
Opens June 11
8 a.m. to noon Saturdays
Downtown Cleveland on the corner of Broadway and Pawnee streets
Downtown Tulsa Farmers Market
Open
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays
Williams Green at Third Street and Boston Avenue
Eufaula Farmers Market
Opens May 30
8 a.m. to noon Saturdays
301 S. First St. at the Eufaula Library
Grove Farmers Market
Opens May 25
8 a.m. to noon Wednesday and Saturday
Downtown Grove on the lawn of the Grove Community Center on Third Street
Haskell Farmers Market
Open
3 p.m. to dark Tuesdays
116 N. Broadway at the Haskell Library
Market at Blake Park
Opens May 14
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays
Blake Park, at U.S. 69 and Oklahoma 51 in Wagoner
Mayes County Farmers Market
Opens May 14
8 to 11 a.m. Saturdays
Mayes County Courthouse Lawn in Pryor
Mounds Farmers Market
Open
8 a.m. to noon second and fourth Saturdays of the month
Geer Park, 14th Street and Commercial Avenue in Mounds
Muskogee Farmers Market
Saturday market is open
Wednesday market opens May 11
8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays
Muskogee Market Square at Fifth and Okmulgee streets
North Tulsa Farmers Market
Opens in June
2 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays
TCC Northeast campus, 3727 E. Apache St.
Newsome Community Farm
Opens in June
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays
2620 E. 56th St. North
Nowata County Farmers Market
Saturday market opens May 14
Wednesday market opens in June
8 a.m. to noon Saturdays
3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday
Nowata County Fairgrounds, one block west of U.S. 169
Okmulgee Farmers Market
Opens Friday
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays
Creek Council House on town square, 100 W. Sixth St.
Osage Hills Farmers Market
Opens June 11
8 a.m. to noon Saturdays
202 E. Rogers Ave. in Skiatook
Owasso Farmers Market
Opens Saturday
7 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays
Owasso YMCA on the service road just west of U.S. 169
Pearl Farmers Market
Open
4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays
Centennial Park, southwest corner of Sixth Street and Peoria Avenue
Sallisaw Farmers Market
Open
8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays
Downtown Sallisaw on Cherokee Street, just west of the library
Seed Sowers Farmers Market
Opens June 6
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays
OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center, 41st Street and Yale Avenue
Stilwell Farmers Market
Open
8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays
Stilwell Public Library, corner of Division and Sixth streets
Stillwater Farmers Market
Open
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays
Strickland Park, 309 N. Main St.
Tahlequah Farmers Market
Opens May 7
8 a.m. to noon Saturdays
Norris Park between Monroe and Spring streets
Original Print Headline: Market fresh
Natalie Mikles 918-581-8486
natalie.mikles@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
The Cherry Street Farmers Market expanded last year, adding a music area with seating and a booth for children. JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World file
A shopper selects a tomato at the Brookside Farmers Market. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World file
Modern farmers market customers want more than just herbs and vegetables, although they want those, too. Tulsa World file
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