Juicy, red tomatoes, watermelons fresh off their vines, plump blackberries and more all line the aisles of the local farmers markets.
As the height of the summer temperatures has arrived in Oxford, the local markets have hit their peak of the season as well.
Owner of Clear Creek Produce Matt Britt has been farming for more than seven years. Along with selling his produce to the permanent, year-round Farmers’ Market store on North Lamar, he participates at as a vendor at both Oxford City Market and Mid-Town Farmers’ Market each week.
“My favorite part about being a farmers market vendor is being able to interact with the local community and getting to meet the people that eat my produce face-to-face,” Britt said.
Britt said the summer market is different from all other seasons and has more participants because of the summer staple fruits and vegetables being grown and a large selection of available items.
He said it’s important for the people of Oxford and other surrounding counties to know that the prices at the market are the same, if not cheaper, than prices at the grocery store.
“The community benefits from farmers markets because it benefits local people and businesses,” Britt said. “It allows for a healthier environment as well. People will stop just to see what’s there and are likely to buy, which means they’re more likely to eat healthy.”
Aileen Bost, volunteer director with Mid-Town Farmers’ Market, has been a vendor at the market for 16 years.
She said the top reason people shop at their farmers market is quality and freshness of products with the benefit of being able to speak with the grower.
“Our vendors are all good, local, hardworking people,” Bost said. “They are always willing to help customers and other vendors and share information about their products.”
Shoppers can buy a wide variety of items at each farmers market. There’s not only fresh produce but baked goods, canned goods, flowers, ice cream, popsicles, meat, dairy and more. Sometimes there’s even live music at the venues.
“Our market is just special to so many people,” Bost said.
Oxford City Market Director Betsy Chapman said it is more than a market.
“It’s a community-based organization working to address food insecurity in Oxford and Lafayette County,” Chapman said.
This market in particular also has an EBT system and is able to accept SNAP — previously known as food stamps — and is a redemption site for WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Vouchers. They host a weekly fresh food drive to give back to the community.
Chapman said shopping at local farmers markets has positive economic, health and social benefits for the community. She said local food is fresher with more nutritional value than food that travels thousands of miles to make it to a person’s table among many other benefits.
“In a world of pre-packaged, instant everything, (the vendors) are keeping centuries-old food traditions alive: growing heirloom vegetables naturally, canning, baking, fermenting and pasture-raising chicken and pigs,” Chapman said. “The work they do adds so much interest and integrity to the fabric of our community.”
Farmers markets in Oxford include the store on North Lamar open seven days a week and the seasonal markets scheduled throughout the spring, summer and fall.
Oxford City Market is open from 3-6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Old Armory Pavilion and Mid-Town Farmers’ Market is open from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and 7-11 a.m. on Saturdays in the Big Bad Breakfast parking lot.
– Lana Ferguson
Photos By Marlee Crawford
-
- The Oxford City Market is a new endeavor bringing the community together every Tuesday afternoon to buy and sell locally made and grown goods.
-
- For years, local farmers have been selling their produce at the Mid-Town Farmers’ Market every Saturday and Wednesday morning.
