The Kilgore Farmers Market returns to North Street Saturday morning downtown. Foul weather or fair, sunny, sprinkling or steaming, the local wares will be waiting.
Kicking off May 31, the summer market will run weekends through the end of July, according to organizer Alicia Clark of Clark Farms. The season’s grand opening runs 8 a.m. to noon under the crisscross shadows of the derricks on the World’s Richest Acre.
There’ll be an assortment of fresh, homegrown produce – early yields.
“As far as vegetables, we won’t have a ton because it’s still a little soon,” Clark said, but there’s plenty in store between green beans and cucumbers, purple and yellow onions, potatoes, zucchini and squash. There’ll be a few tomatoes, too.
That’s all in addition to the locally-produced inventory from other participating vendors.
“Most of the stuff that people bring out is homemade, handmade. You have to grow 75 percent of what you bring up there.”
With the season just beginning, Clark doesn’t yet have an accurate head-count of the vendors who will be turning out each week, but she’s pleased with the early numbers – the organizational meeting in mid-May drew 10 participants.
“We’ve been doing it pretty much our whole life,” Clark added, logging plenty of hours in the stall at Longview’s market on the fairgrounds. In addition to a seasonal roadside stand at their home, “My dad goes to the Henderson Market now, and I go to the Kilgore one.”
It’s gratifying to see so many participating vendors, especially since everyone in the Kilgore market focuses on local product.
Generally, “I’m the only one with vegetables. I should have some eggs,” Clark said. Among the other merchants, “They have soaps and crafts and different stuff like that. We also have some bread vendors.
“To me, the market runs itself. We’ll be there rain or shine.”
For more information about the Kilgore Farmers Market or to sign up as a vendor, text Clark via 903-932-1577.
In a Friday reminder to participants, Clark noted, “If you are a vendor for Kilgore in the morning, try to get there as early as possible so we can get everything set up and organized. It may take longer than normal due to the amount of vendors and it being our first market in this location.”
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