March 28, 2024

Farmers Market wraps up with bountiful selection

Last market of season to be held Tuesday

The Newton Farmers Market season will come to a close next Tuesday.

The market, which runs from the first Tuesday in June until the last Tuesday in September, had good and mixed reviews from vendors and patrons.

“When it was hot not so good but on the cold days it’s been really nice,” Nancy Woody of Nancy’s Jellies said. Woody has attended all of the markets this year and said attendance can be hit or miss.

“It really kind of varies, I would really like to see more,” Woody said. The market is located in the parking lot south of the Centre for Art and Artists, 501 W. Third St. N., but used to be held closer to the square.

Woody said it is a nice, little market that has a little bit of everything and that she plans to attend next year.

Deanna Raffety-Cook of Wholly Goats Handcrafted Soap, is in her first year at the market but isn’t sure if she will be coming back.

“I want to come back just because Newton is my community, so I want to come back but I am better supported and have more return customers in Grinnell,” Raffety-Cook said. She also attends the Grinnell Farmers Market on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Raffety-Cook said she would like to see some more live entertainment to help draw in a larger crowd.

“Some live entertainment, like we had the very first week, that was a lot of fun,” Raffety-Cook said.

Patrons who frequent the farmers market are satisfied with the products available every week.

“For the vegetables definitely ... the tomatoes are always good, the cucumbers, peppers, everything. The fresh baked bread of course, it is organic. So yeah, I’m very pleased with it,” Teena Roush said. Roush attends the market almost every week and is pleased with the selection of products as well as the quality.

“It’s autumn so the pumpkins and the watermelons are coming. A lot of fresh baked goods, too,” Roush said. She said there wasn’t anything more she could think of that she would like at the market.

“I think it is a great place for the community to come,” Roush said.

Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.