Wednesday, June 24, 1998

Beat the heat with fresh vegetables from Farmers Market

By J.T. Smith / Abilene Reporter-News

Good fruits and vegetables are even more important in your diet in this ongoing intense heat.

Of course, that same heat has made it mighty tough to grow area produce this season.

Nevertheless, the farmers markets in Abilene have some nice produce, although in limited amounts so far.

So consider this J.T.'s "consumer report."

This farm writer decided to go out as a "shopper" Tuesday morning to see what I could find.

Here's my report.

Best to get out early to fairgrounds

I went out to the Big Country Farmers Market which is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the southeast corner of Taylor County Expo Center grounds.

By the time I returned a few phone calls and took care of some routine morning matters here at the Reporter-News, I didn't get out to the Expo Center until a dab after 9 a.m.

They already had sold out of tomatoes.

The message is real clear after many weeks of drought and extremely hot temperatures: If you want tomatoes, try to get out there as soon as the market opens on one of those three days.

Black-eyed peas, another highly popular item, also were sold out by 9 o'clock.

I visited with Carl King of Cisco who had some nice squash, blackberries and cucumbers among his produce. King also has black-eyed peas and will have some cream peas coming off a bit later in the season.

King expects to have his first vine-ripened tomatoes by either this Saturday -- or certainly, by next Tuesday. He raises good ones.

That should add to the amount of nice tomatoes currently available at the market. (But you will still need to get there early for tomatoes).

King also will have some watermelons and cantaloupes later in the season.

This farm writer also visited with Joe Bentley of Clyde. Bentley had squash, okra, potatoes, onions (purple, yellow and 1015s), peas, pecans -- and had sold out of apricots.

Bentley was getting ample assistance from his great grandson Kyle Tiner, 11. (A great way for a youngster to spend some of the summertime).

Debbie Glazner of Clyde had both purple-hull and black-eyed peas and sold out real early Tuesday. Glazner also is manager of the Big Country Farmers Market.

I visited with some of the people shopping at the market.

Georgia Dacus of Ovalo, while buying some vegetables from King, said she likes the opportunity to buy fresh produce directly from the farm.

Nearby, Marjorie Parmelly, a retired Abilene schoolteacher, purchased some produce from Bentley and his grandson. She took home some squash, onions and potatoes.

"I like it because I can get small portions of things here," she said. "That's important when you're just buying for yourself."

Bentley said he always aims to accommodate such customers.

Certainly, the Big Country Farmers Market welcomes new farmers during the season.

The entire season's membership fee for a produce farmer is a mere $25. The stall fee per trip is just $5.

Area produce farmers can become members any time during the season. If Glazner isn't there at the time, then King, Bentley or another member can assist you.

What this farm writer took home

I bought some nice cucumbers and squash from King.

And I purchased some superb onions from Bentley.

In all, I spent $3.

On a chance -- after visiting briefly at the nearby Extension Service office -- I then drove across town to the Northside Farmers Market on North Treadaway.

It was about 11 a.m. by then. But I found some gorgeous tomatoes from the Loraine area in Mitchell County.

I spent another $2 and was glad to do it for these tomatoes.

Certainly, I would have liked to have done all of my produce shopping in one place. But as anyone who knows me realizes, I really like people. And I also like getting outside.

The Northside Farmers Market also is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until "sell-out" -- which is "usually" about 12:30 p.m. or noonish.

But if I were looking for great tomatoes, I wouldn't push my luck at either farm market.

I would get out early -- besides, the weather is so much nicer early in the morning.

Now, I can only hope my wife, Carolyn, is as pleased with my $5 of "shopping" as I was.