STUART DONLAN
Local Farmer’s Market Acts as “Business Incubator”
The Marshall Area Farmer’s Market is approaching the end of its yearly outdoor season, but businesses and consumers continue to take advantage of its services.
Patty Parker, board member for the market, says the market is a wonderful place for farmers just getting started. “It’s a business incubator. We’ve had small businesses come through the market and they have eventually grown enough to where they can operate independently, then new businesses come in. It’s a cycle,” said Parker. Parker’s comments were echoed by Dan and Deb Marsh, owners of Greener Grass Farms in Quincy. “A small farm cannot make it on the commodity market. For a town of this size, this is a good market, and it helps enable us to make a living.”
The Marshall Area Farmer’s Market during it’s Harvest Festival which featured live music and a magic show.
The market not only benefits the vendors, but it also serves the surrounding community by providing high quality local products to attending residents. Todd and Barb Hazel, owners of Hazel Family Farm said they saw major change during the pandemic when people began to shop more locally and look closer at what they were buying. “When you are buying here, you are getting high quality, and you know where it comes from,” said Todd Hazel. “There are no additives, no preservatives. You’re supporting your neighbor instead of huge big box stores, so I have always been a big fan,” said Jill Stout, marketgoer and vendor.
The Marshall Area Farmer’s Market will continue to have their outdoor summer market on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. through the remainder of October before switching to their indoor winter market starting in November according to their official website. For more information, visit their website at www.marshallareafarmersmarket.org.
Todd and Barb Hazel interacting with a customer at the Marshall Area Farmer’s Market.
Dan and Deb Marsh work their booth Greener Grass Farms booth at the market. “We offer a specialty product that can be hard to find. These markets give people that opportunity,” said Dan Marsh.
Cheryl Hutchinson poses with one of her custom embroidery pieces. “It’s a real creative outlet for me. I usually just sell them for what I have in them. I’m not doing it to make money,” said Hutchinson.
Eric Sullivan, astronomy professor at the University of Olivet, doubles as a magician, providing a free magic show for marketgoers.