CROTHERSVILLE
A Facebook post about starting a farmers market in Crothersville has drawn a lot of praise.
Several people said they would be willing to sell fresh vegetables, produce, baked goods and other food, while others expressed their willingness to purchase items close to home.
From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, the Crothersville Parks Board is inviting vendors to set up in the grassy area at 101 W. Howard St. That’s the old site of the town hall just west of the railroad tracks.
There will be no fee for space, but donations to the parks board will be accepted. Vendors must supply their own tables or canopies, and no electricity will be supplied.
If it goes well, there’s a possibility of making the farmers market a weekly event, said Danieta Foster, a member of the Crothersville Town Council whose husband, Ron Foster, is president of the parks board.
“We wanted to see how it went before we made a commitment to do it every week,” Danieta said. “We’re in need of sellers. We have plenty of buyers. If we can get the sellers, we will be there every Saturday.”
Danieta said it all started after she received a message on Facebook about the possibility of offering a farmers market in town.
On July 19, she posted on the town’s Facebook page asking for people’s input. It generated more than 60 “likes” and more than 20 comments and shares.
“It was a good response,” she said. “I was surprised that I got that many.”
A followup post, which generated a similar amount of feedback, talked about tying in the farmers market with the town’s community yard sales, which have been conducted in May and October for a long time.
It was suggested that a small donation to the parks board could be made to buy equipment for the town’s two parks.
“There has been talk between Curt Kovener and I about the parks board taking over the community yard sales because the interest has been dwindling,” Danieta said. “People asked maybe once a month we can do a flea market, too, with the farmers market and see if we can get interest up more for the community yard sales that way.”
The first farmers market will not include a flea market, but Danieta said that’s a possibility in the future.
She said Crothersville had a farmers market in the Baptist church parking lot a few years ago, and the parks board hopes reviving it in a new location is a success.
Signs will be placed on Armstrong Street or U.S. 31 to advertise the town’s new offering.
“There are a lot of people here in town that just can’t get out of town to get fresh vegetables, so this will give them a local place to go,” Danieta said.
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What: Farmers market, presented by the Crothersville Parks Board
When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday
Where: 101 W. Howard St., Crothersville (former site of the town hall just west of the railroad tracks)
Who: Public welcome to sell and buy
Cost: Free to vendors; donations to the parks board will be accepted
Information: Anyone interested in selling produce, honey, baked goods, etc. may call Danieta Foster at 812-390-8217 or send a message via the Crothersville Community Park Facebook page
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