By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent LEXINGTON, Ky. — As the farmers’ market season begins in earnest around Kentucky, people from many urban areas will get a taste of the farm from now until fall. In Lexington, the local market brings a sense of renewal to one of the city’s earliest suburbs.
The Lexington Farmers’ Market, the largest of its kind in the state, has been a visible part of the downtown area for many years. They have expanded that to include the Southland area of Lexington, one of the first suburban neighborhoods built in the city. The Southland Assoc., a group formed in 2004 to promote neighborhood businesses and “enhance the future for the benefit of our residents and customers,” according to the organization’s mission statement, worked to bring the market to the location.
Southland President Phil Wyant said bringing the market there was one of the many things done to revitalize the area.
“Some of us realized we needed to support the area and community,” he said. “One of the first things we thought we could do to bring new people into the area and also to provide a needed benefit to those who were already here, was to try and create a farmers’ market. We have a lot of people that like to walk into the shopping area and we have a lot of people who are older and have lived here for many years, shopped here all that time.”
Through the efforts of Melanie Roederer, secretary for the association and chair of the farmers’ market committee, the group contacted the market’s leadership to discuss a project that would complement rather than compete - thus a Sunday market was approved. Next, area merchants were contacted to get their feedback, which was completely positive said Wyant. “It’s actually been a success from day one,” he said. “By in large we are as happy as we can be with what’s been going on in Southland with the cooperation of the farmers’ market and it is a cooperative effort.”
Abigail Keam, known as Miss Abigail, is a beekeeper, and has been bringing her bee and honey products to the downtown market since 1999 - and the Southland version since it started. “We’re delighted to be here and this has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made,” she said. “People like to come here, it’s easier for them to navigate and it is very festive.”
Maggie Jenkins and her grandson, John Garey, who have separate farms in Bourbon County, sell hanging baskets and herbs in the early spring, then cold crops like lettuce and spinach.
In the summer they bring regular produce like tomatoes, beans, peppers and eggplant.
“I think I might have been the first one here,” said Jenkins. “We were invited here and it makes you feel good when you’re invited, like you are wanted.”
The long-time tobacco and tobacco plant farmers, now raise vegetables instead of burley except for a few acres on the Jenkins farm.
Leo and Jean Keene of Blue Moon Farm in Richmond were instrumental in getting the market started and helped in the creation of a Sunday venue. They raise and sell garlic, fresh-cut herbs, specialty green beans and baby squash.
“My idea was that since we had so many farmers that participated in the Saturday market that if sometimes the weather didn’t cooperate, what a good idea it would be to have a second shot, another opportunity to sell,” he said. “We’ve heard too that a lot of people that don’t go downtown avail themselves here, and I don’t think it hurts the businesses around here too badly either.”
Those businesses include grocery stores and markets which usually see an increase in revenue when the market is open.
“One of the businesses told us that on the first day we were here, their business was up $5,000 that day. A lot of us now sell produce to them,” said Keene.
Jeff Dabbelt, manager of the Lexington Farmers’ Market said the market has benefited all in the area.
“One of the first things I heard here was, ‘if it doesn’t happen in Southland, it doesn’t happen at all.’ and that is a resident’s perspective on supporting these local shops and basically whole-hearted support of our market once we got here,” said Dabbert. “Sunday is a family day, and the market has a lot of appeal to people. It is situated where you can get enough for brunch or come by after church and get your stuff for dinner. It has a festival atmosphere, but it is a farmer’s market.”
Otis and Irene Hume, who have lived in the neighborhood for 55 years and have been married for 57, think the market is a great addition to the area.
“This is a nice place to live. Our next door neighbor calls it ‘Little Mayberry’,” said Irene. Otis said he has hardly missed a Sunday since the market opened.
The Humes are just a sample of those who live and work in Southland. The market is full of families old and young alike. It even has a nurse that gives blood pressure readings and hands out literature on healthy living and nutrition.
Terry Foody, a registered nurse, has lived nearby for more than 20 years.
“When the market opened up, because I’m very much supportive of Southland Drive and the community health, I decided to come over here and set up my table and offer free blood pressure checks,” she said. “I’m doing some screening also doing some check ups on some people who are on medication and I do a little bit of health teaching as well. I can’t get here every Sunday but when I can, I’m here.”
Local farmers, in bringing their goods to the area, are contributing to the neighborhood’s success. From fresh flowers to honey to green beans and tomatoes, the market supplies neighbors with good food and good fun.
Market hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Eastern time. For information on the Southland Assoc., visit their website at www.southlandassociation.com, and more on the Lexington Farmers’ Market, go to www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.com |
