Farmers Market offers entertainment
Guttenberg Farmers Market is held each Saturday morning – rain or shine, from 8 a.m. - noon from May 15- Oct. 23 in the 400 block of South River Park Drive on the banks of the Mississippi River. (Press photo by Shelia Tomkins)
By Caroline Rosacker
Farmers Markets can be a great contribution to communities by improving the availability of fresh, nutritious, affordable food to area residents. Markets can also contribute to local economies by providing growers and other producers an opportunity to sell their product directly to consumers.
Increasingly, some market vendors are able to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (SNAP), Women Infant Children (WIC), and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers offering healthy food to low-income families or individuals on a fixed income. "Currently two of our vendors will accept vouchers from these programs," said Brandie Tomkins, director of the Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce.
Additionally, farmers markets provide an area for social gatherings offering entertainment such as cooking demonstrations, petting zoos and free music venues.
Guttenberg Farmers Market
Guttenberg Farmers Market is located in the 400 block of South River Park Drive overlooking the banks of the Mississippi River. The event is held each Saturday morning – rain or shine – from 8 a.m. - noon, from May 15 - Oct. 23, and
offers a wide variety of local vendors from the community and surrounding area.
Market vendors have on display a large selection of locally grown, organic fresh produce, locally raised specialty meats, farm fresh eggs, locally produced honey and honey products, handmade soaps and bath products, homemade granola and fresh baked goods, in addition to a wide variety of artisan crafts.
Participating vendors
The following vendors have submitted applications to participate in the Guttenberg Farmers Market.
Phelps Farm: fresh produce, flowers, and honey
Friendship Flower Farm: flowers and eggs
Trevor Baer: photographs of Guttenberg
Robert Nieland: wood crafts
Elsinger Family Farm: baked goods, crafts, flowers, jams, jellies and granola
Johnson Honey Farm: produce, baked goods, noodles, crafts, soaps, honey and syrup
Friedlein Produce: fresh produce, baked goods
County Line Acres LLC: fresh produce and baked goods
Gail's Good's: bar soap, shampoo bars, laundry stain sticks, handmade wooden swords, knives, toys and cedarwood soap dishes, handmade kitchen towels, handbags, an assortment of Rada products and farm fresh eggs.
Lora Kolker: crafts
Rita Keck: fresh produce, baked goods, and crafts
Katie Hershberger: fresh produce, baked goods, crafts, jam and jellies
Entertainment
Bruce Bryant’s solo act, Carpe Diem, will perform on May 29, from 9 - 11 a.m. Bryant's characteristic vocals and acoustic guitar blends tunes from Cat Stevens, The Beatles and other favorites including some original compositions.
Hilltop Homestead Petting Zoo, a small family-run business launched in 2020, will be on hand with their small animal children's zoo on July 24 and Sept. 25.
"Our local community and summer visitors are looking forward to the 2021 Farmers Market. We are in hopes of a great year! Make sure to come down and check out all of our vendors and pick up some goodies!" said Tomkins.
Guttenberg Farmers Market is sponsored by Community Savings Bank. For additional information. follow Guttenberg Farmers Market on Facebook or call the Chamber office at 563-252-2323.
