Scott Evans is a Jessamine County farmer and a 15 - year veteran of the James Leonard Farmer ’ market .
Drought ! It ’s hit much of Kentucky hard this twelvemonth . Still , we saw validation that the farmers at the Lexington Farmers ’ Market have find room to work around the obstacles of a hot , dry summer . During a recent sojourn to the market , our mouths water at the sight of the colorful , strong tomatoes , peppers , melon and squash covering the table . We stopped by to talk with several farmers — all assay to keep cool under the clean , white canopies they place up to shade their garden wares . We take for advice on how they get commence , about their big challenges – and what they do with their remnant produce . Scott Evans , who possess a farm in Jessamine County , Ky. , has been farm for about 20 yr — and has been coming to the James Leonard Farmer ’ grocery for 15 long time .
Pay a sojourn to theLexington Farmers Marketorfind a farmers ’ market near you .
surround by luscious orange and red tomato plant and baskets of bright unripened peppers , Evans echoed the words of other granger saying the handsome challenge for vegetable granger like him is the weather condition .
“ It ’s the growing weather condition , ” he says , “ and carry off diseases , too . ”
( Even our CSA is struggle a piece to satisfy our vegetable boxes this calendar month — but that ’s part of the danger we accept when we signed up to share in the bounty of the local harvest . )
Evan ’s advice to James Leonard Farmer want to move into the Fannie Farmer ’ market business , “ Be patient . ”
Roland McIntosh hunt the Pawpaw Plantation in Powell County , Ky.
“ It take a while to work up up a client base , ” he says . “ But once you do , customers will come ; they prize the saucy , local food . They get it on I grow everything I trade . They ’re looking for that . ”
Roland McIntosh , who extend Pawpaw Plantation in Powell County , Ky. , has this advice for those who want to set up store at the farmers ’ market . Research:“This should come first . Talk to other farmers at the market , observe and see what is being sold , ” he say .
Over at the Crooked Creek Farm sales booth , Jason and Darlene Bailey offer a spread that looks like a mini grocery store .
Darlene and Jason Bailey hold over the Crooked Creek Farm after Jason ’s parents retire .
The couple take over the Jessamine County farm from Jason ’s parent – and their life - long farming experience exhibit .
Jason select the farmers ’ market challenges in pace . His biggest business concern challenge : making indisputable he has enough stave available to help in the playing field and getting all the green goods to the market .
Otherwise , he tells other farmers ’ market aspirant , “ Just go for it ! ”
Another burn question for the Fannie Farmer : What do you do with all the tomato plant , beans and other produce that does n’t betray ?
