Sedalia Area Farmers’ Market Opening for 2013 Season

The Sedalia Area Farmers’ Market will have its opening day of the 2013 season from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, at the Missouri State Fairgrounds main gate on South Hwy. 65. The market will also be open from 3 to 6 p.m. on Fridays.

The market opening was postponed from May 3 due to an unseasonal snow. “For the first time in five years we had to re-schedule opening day, but it was the right thing to do for our customers and vendors. We’re hopeful that our opening on Tuesday will be met with sunshine,” said Brenda Raetz, president of the SAFM board. “We are looking forward to another great year at the market.”

Locally grown produce, eggs, bedding plants and homemade baked goods and other products will be available for the first time this season at the Sedalia Area Farmers’ Market. New offerings this season include wood-fired oven pizza from Table of 5 Catering.
The opening of the market will see the return of several features from last year. Bothwell Regional Health Center has again agreed to supply up to $1,000 to match electronic benefits transfer (EBT) purchases at the market. That means those who use their EBT cards as part of the federal food stamp program will be able to purchase twice as much of the local, healthy foods offered at the market. Each EBT customer can receive up to a $20 match per market visit.

All market patrons will have the opportunity to put their name in a drawing each time they visit the market for a chance to win the monthly Bag of Bounty, which includes $20 in market tokens. The Bag of Bounty drawing takes place the first Friday of each month.

Monthly specials will also be offered to various community groups. In May, the market will honor educators who show proof of employment at the market tent with a $1 coupon to spend with any vendor. Other monthly specials include senior citizens older than 60 in June and September; military personal in July; government employees in October and healthcare workers in August.

“Some people may not be aware that our market is the sole producer-only market, meaning that we can vouch for the freshness and quality of the products which come from Pettis and surrounding counties,” Raetz said.

The market accepts cash, debit and food stamps/EBT.

This press release was provided by the Sedalia Area Farmers' Market.