The weather was picture perfect as the City of Zachary hosted the Farmers Market at the Zachary Youth Park on Saturday, April 25. 

What a way to save money, eat fresh food and mingle with good country folks. The Farmer’s Market is a place where local farmers can showcase their finished product and sell to consumers what they produce. It makes farmers happy to see customers admiring their booths, asking questions about the product and, of course, buying items from the table.

Our local farmers take a lot of pride in doing what they do best. Hands in the dirt, planting, watering, thinning out weeds, fertilizing, dusting, picking, washing, and taking the time to set up a booth at the market. 

“Times are getting tougher,” said David Taylor of Zachary, “and we need to do whatever is necessary to save money and put food on the table.”

Vendors from Zachary, St. Francisville, Ethel, and Jackson sold freshly picked strawberries, locally grown red potatoes, turnips, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, green onions, grits, corn meal, honey, bee pollen, flowers, and sweet muscadine jelly.  Almost everything was sold by 9 a.m.

“Customers should come early,” said Mayor Henry Matinez, as he greeted the citizens with a welcoming handshake, thanked them for coming and encouraged everyone to attend the next farmers market on May 9.

The Sweet Tea Bluegrass Band played music and sold cds as folks browsed and shopped for the deal of the day.

This was the second Zachary Farmer’s Market to be held and more folks attended this time around.

Besides mingling and buying produce, the Farmers Market presents a great opportunity for farmers to share information about their crops, gather ideas, tips, and facts on how to raise a better garden.

Mayor Martinez said the market will grow as the word gets out and as the vegetables are harvested from the gardens of local farmers.  If interested in becoming a vendor at the Zachary Farmer’s Market, please contact the mayor’s office at 654-0287.