8th Annual Claremore Farmers' Market is Underway

The Claremore Farmers’ Market, located at 400 Veterans Parkway, is held every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon and runs through the end of October.

Ken Steele, manager of the Claremore Farmers’ Market.

The Claremore Farmers’ Market, located at 400 Veterans Parkway, is held every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon and runs through the end of October.

The market offers a plethora of locally grown spring, summer and fall crops including ripe berries, grapes, heirloom ­tomatoes, melons and farm-fresh eggs. Goat’s milk and assorted greens are also sold. A selection of annual and perennial bedding plants are available all season.

The Claremore Farmers’ Market was started in 2003 with just three vendors and roughly 20 customers. Today, there are nearly 30 vendors, and the ­market is swarmed with shoppers by 8 a.m. “More and more people are wanting homegrown fruits and vegetables,” said Ken Steele, manager of the Claremore Farmers’ Market. “We offer quality produce, often at a better price than what you will find in grocery stores.”

Customers should plan on arriving early in order to get the best selection. “It’s a race for some people,” said Steele. “People arrive earlier and earlier so they can get there before items sell out.”

Steele remembers attending farmers’ markets since he was 16 years old with his grandfather. They would attend markets in big cities, but Steele prefers the size of the Claremore Farmers’ Market. “Our farmers have a good relationship with the people that shop with us, and that’s because of our size,” he said. “We draw a good crowd, but it’s not so big that the customers can’t get to know the vendors.”

The farmers are very careful about what goes on their crops. “The farmers eat from the same crop they are selling at the market,” said Steele. “Customers can really trust that what they are buying is high quality.”

In addition to offering a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, the Claremore Farmers’ Market is a great place for people to socialize and exchange food and gardening tips. There is a walking trail nearby, and shoppers are encouraged to bring their kids and pets.

For a complete list of crops and availability, visit ­www.localharvest.org/claremore-farmers-market-M21133.

For more information, contact

Claremore Farmers’ Market 

(918) 343-8923

eat0@eau0eav0eaw0
www.localharvest.org