Small Town News

Shoppin at the farmers market

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Granted, there have been times in the past when Petersburg Farmers' Market stalwart Ross Nestor wondered if it was worth the effort to show up every Wednesday morning at the municipal parking lot.

Many were the days when Nestor and his compatriot green-thumbers would hardly make a sale.

But, not so this summer.

Take last Wednesday as an example when Nestor and vendors Bill Kenyon and Jim Dove were kept busy by a steady stream of buyers looking for their favorite veggies and fruit.

In fact, some of the vendors have started showing up on Saturday mornings to serve customers who can't get away from work on weekdays.

"It has been pretty good so far," said Nestor. "I hope it keeps up."

One of last week's shoppers was Viola Champ, who showed up hoping Kenyon had brought along her special order of kale. He did, for a price of $1.

"I can't grow it myself because I live in town," explained Champ, whose parents always had a big garden in years gone by. "I like to cook it down ... eat it up like greens. It is great."

Kenyon, whose somewhat small mid-summer harvest of green beans sold out fast on this particular morning, has a loyal following of shoppers looking for organic vegetables. Another customer asked ahead for jalapeno peppers.

Looking up from her examination of Kenyon's wares, another shopper stated: "It (organic) appeals to me, very much so."

A first-year vendor who has so far enjoyed the experience of getting together with other gardeners, Kenyon describes himself as a die-hard backyard grower. He stated: "I eat, can, grow and sell."

One of Kenyon's favorite crops is heirloom tomatoes, especially a large-growing 'mater which originated from one of Kenyon's Pendleton County friends.

Dove, who works the market with help from his wife, Debra, bolsters his selection of veggies with honey produced by a Mouth of Seneca relative, Isaac Whetzel.

As they have done in the past, market vendors are accepting coupons issued by WIC and the state senior citizens' program. There have been as many as six vendors at a time on hand to make sales.



Copyright 2009 Grant County Press, Petersburg, West Virginia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 Grant County Press Petersburg, West Virginia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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