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Publication Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008

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Farmers Market open each Wednesday in Donnellson

Published: Thursday, August 21, 2008 1:59 PM CDT
For MVM News Network

DONNELLSON - The Farmers Market is in full swing.

Consumers will find a range of vendors with the season's bounty of vegetables and homemade, home-grown local products.

Under the pavilion in Donnellson Railroad Park every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m., a small group of local growers assemble their goods for sale.

The market is the brainchild of Chris Strunk, a Donnellson resident, who organized the group in mid-June.

Strunk said she wanted to provide a community service to residents of Donnellson and surrounding communities due to the rising gas and food prices.


“That way the dollars spent by consumers go directly to growers within the community,” Strunk said.

The market also provides a community activity which fosters social gathering and interaction. She tells her patrons “just bring a chair and sit and visit.”

Donnellson Mayor Bill Young drops by just about every week and has been her best supporter.

Vendors who wish to set up a stand can contact Strunk in advance or come at 3 p.m. on market day for sign-in, registration and setup. The only fee involved is a 5 percent charge (to help with advertising) for sales up to $100. Therefore, the maximum fee is $5.

The plan at the moment is to continue the market through September but that could be extended into October by popular request from consumers.

One-time fund-raisers such as local youth groups from Donnellson and Embury churches have participated to raise funds for a particular church project or charity.

Sarah Tweedy's children from the local Raisin' Em Up Daycare make and sell kits comprised of dried mixes for soups or cookies in a jar, as well as beaded animal magnets. For one special project, the children raised $50 and instead of spending it on themselves decided to donate the money to an area needy family.

Vendors' specialties range from fresh garden vegetables and fruit to eggs, fresh baked goods and homemade noodles.

Fruit pies and cakes are a specialty of Stacey Graber, Lisa Wellmen, Betty Timpe, Bernard Boeding and Michelle Bryant; fresh vegetables and fruit are brought by Jim Derr, Karen Van Brocklin of Alley Greenhouse, Ivan and Elsie Roth, and Cyndi and Bobby Browning. Strunk has her own specialties such as made-from-scratch cakes, specialty breads, and home-made tomato noodles and what she calls “hay and straw” (a mixture of spinach and egg noodles).

During September, Strunk is looking to expand the market goods and would like to include vendors that make handicrafts, knitted and crocheted items, plants and fresh and dried flowers.

She can be contacted at 319-836-2001 or by e-mail at chickadee66@iowatelecom.net.



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