As South Dakota celebrates its 125th anniversary, SDPB is celebrating the people, places, and events that give our state its unique character. Agriculture has been a large part of South Dakota’s identity since before statehood, and today many farmers and gardeners are carrying on that legacy through farmer’s markets. As part of a continuing series, we have a look at why farmers markets are one of the important Landscapes of South Dakota.
A sign along Highway 12 in northeast South Dakota, not too far west of Milbank, points the way to the Twin Brooks Farmers Market. Once in town, it’s not too difficult to find your way to the vendors. According to the latest census, Twin Brooks has about 68 residents. But Thursday nights in the summertime, the population grows as people from the surrounding communities come to buy fresh produce and enjoy each other’s company.
“I have jellies, and I do pickles. I make cookies, and then we also have garden stuff. We’ve got some tomatoes, we’ve got cabbage,” Myrna Bell says.
Myrna Bell sits behind a couple of tables and discusses what she’s brought today. There’s a little bit of everything here, both fresh and canned. Creating a spread like this is nothing new for Bell. She’s been gardening for the past 55 years.
“I’d be lost if I didn’t have a garden,” Bell says. “I enjoy it. I’m getting older where I grumble a little more when I have to go out and do some of this stuff. But we do it. Like I said I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have a garden. I wouldn’t eat as good as I do, that’s for sure.”
Farmers markets like the one in Twin Brooks allow us apartment dwellers and other non-gardeners to have a taste of extra fresh produce each week. Many of the veggies here were picked just hours before going on sale.
Chris Zdorovtsov is an SDSU Extension Community Development Field Specialist. She focuses on local food projects. She says farmers markets have had a strong presence in South Dakota for the past ten years. She says the state sees markets in an average of 55 to 60 locations each summer.
“In places that don’t have the grocery store or fresh produce, you’re seeing them pop up just because of an access issue,” Zdorovtsov says. “And so it’s a good targeted market where they can go in. I think a lot of people are trying to find ways to have a business where they can stay in their small towns or rural communities, so they’re popping up there as entrepreneurial markets. Markets like Rapid City and Sioux Falls are growing, multiple ones are popping up in these communities as well, just because there is such a large population base, and people are interested in having access to really fresh and diverse food that you may not see in a typical store.”
According to a study from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, farmers markets brought in over a million dollars in sales last year. Zdorovtsov says they provide a way for rural communities to have economic development, which she hopes will help keep small towns alive.
“I would really like for people that want to be farmers and want to stay on the farm to find ways to continue to do that,” Zdorovtsov says. “And having then that food available for their community and being supported by their community, it sort of all works together.”
Zdorovtsov says every market has its own philosophy. For some rural towns, the market becomes not just a place to shop, but a community event as well. That’s one thing Colleen Quade discovered as she and other organizers created the Twin Brooks Farmers Market. Like many other rural markets, the Twin Brooks event offers a meal each week. This time it’s barbecue pork loin sandwiches, with a salad and bars made by the vendors. Quade says the market has turned into a community function.
“It’s that social interaction,” Quade says. “A lot of them are probably more on the elderly end, they’re retired, they have lots of energy and a night when they don’t have the grandkids around, or whatever the reason is, but it’s kind of a tight knit group of people. They keep track of each other. If someone’s not there, they want to know why. Where have they been? Do we need to call and check on them?”
Farmers markets not only bring together the shoppers who come each week, but the community members who organize the event. Quade says it takes a dedicated team of people to get a farmer’s market going.
Cindy Larsen has just walked across the street from her house to check out this week’s products. For her, it’s especially nice to see her small town’s park being put to use each week.
“I enjoy seeing the people come around and be here. It’s nice to see people enjoying it. And the weather’s been really nice, so it’s nice to have them,” Larsen says.
Larsen hasn’t purchased anything yet…she just got here.
Onie Gonzales, who’s here from Wyoming and visiting family in the area, has already made his first purchase - a jar of pickles, and has his sights set on some fresh produce.
“I love it, I love it. My mouth waters when I see all this good stuff, you know. Especially the sweet corn, yes,” Gonzales says.
Gonzales says he doubts the jar of pickles he bought will stay closed and uneaten until he reaches home. But if he runs out, there’s always next week. Or he can make a trip to one of the many other farmers markets South Dakota communities have to offer. There’s one nearly every night of the week.
For more information on farmers markets in South Dakota, or for tips on starting one in your community, visit the SDSU Extension iGrow website.