The season continues at Gateway Farmers market, with a variety of tables displaying goods running the gamut from produce, to baked goods, to homemade soap, toys and more. This year has seen its share of cancellations and lowered expectations. But the Gateway Farmers Market of Texarkana, Arkansas, has defied that trend.
"When COVID came down, we made the decision to go on with our season," said Cindy Gladden, who had to contend with this challenge in her first year of managing the market. "I had been working on the staff a few years before this, so I had learned the ropes and felt ready for the job. When it came to dealing with COVID, we wanted to go ahead with the season. Given that Gateway Farmers Market is an open-air setup, we arranged social distancing, directed entries and exits, hand sanitizer widely available and we encourage masks. Otherwise, it is our farmers market, as usual. Being an open-air market made things easier."
For Gladden, one thing that makes it even easier is that the market is a family affair. Multiple generations of her family have been steady participants in the farmers market, and Saturday, Labor Day weekend, was no exception. For one thing, there was her mother, Mary Littleton, with baked goods, homemade soap and more.
"I learned the (soap) recipe back when lye soap was made with ashes, like the old days," said Littleton.
"You should really try thewell, they are all great, especially the pecan pie," said Jenetta Parks, one of the customers at Littleton's table.
"We would help Mom prepare the goods when we were kids," said Gladden.
"The kids would go to the market with me," said Littleton. "They would charm the pants off everyone.
Tori Gladden, Cindy's daughter, operated her own table, and could also be seen studying textbooks in between customers.
"I'm preparing for my nursing degree," said Tori Gladden. "It is very rewarding, being a part of the farmers market community. Good food, fresh veggies. After I become a nurse, I will still be involved with the market in one way or another."
"She will never stop planting," Cindy Gladden said. "Business has been really great this season, all things considered, lots of vendors, good, steady customers. As for the remainder of this year's season, we plan on staying open for the remainder of September, unless it gets too cold before then."