Around 20 attendees made up of farmers, crafters and other vendors met at Texarkana, Texas, City Hall Friday evening to see what was new and what was returning for the coming farmer's market season. The merchants fired questions at the officials and the enthusiasm for the coming season was apparent. One of the items detailed was the return of the mobile market, the online ordering system that allowed customers to order items and drive up to a location and receive their goods.
The mobile market was originally devised as a workaround to the COVID situation last year, but proved so popular, the Texarkana Farmer's Market is bringing it back.
Keith Beason, city planner and farmer's market official confirmed mobile market enthusiasm.
"Last year, it was great," he said. "This method allowed us to reach a different crowd who might not otherwise get up early on Saturday morning and go to the farmer's market. So it is definitely coming back. Customers will get to configure their orders exactly how they want them and it will be as easy to obtain your goods as last year."
As the season approaches (tentative starting date is May 1), officials want to see producers send in photos to promote the market and let customers know what is coming on social media.
"This will a big part of letting folks know what is out there, your production," he said. "Send the photos to us [email protected].
"We will be setting up the big tent, of course," said Ann-Marie Sullivan, cultural food co-ordinator. "We also have a full range of events to mix things up for the market. From an outreach to collect canned goods for local charities, to things like a kids' sidewalk chalk, biggest tomato, firefighter appreciation, cornhole tournament, biggest tomato and more. We also plan on posting cooking videos on our social media. We would like to set up a kitchen out there and have some cooking events on site. But that is still a work in progress."