July 2, 2008
Fresh Produce Available One Day from Field at Central City Market
By Chris Spencer
Huntingtonnews.net Photographer
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- Farmers and vegetable growers are selling their fresh produce one day away from the field at The Central City Market located at 14th Street West in Huntington.
The Farmer's Market opened on Saturday, June 28 and will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until sold out.
There are some excellent produce goods to be had this early in the season, but items like tomatoes can sell out quickly right after opening. As more vegetables and crops come to maturity more items are expected to be available.
On Tuesday, July 1, many farmers were sold out of product before 8 a.m.. More produce and farmers are expected to increase as the growing season progresses.
Dan Bartram, president of The Farmer's Market, said: "I think this year will be a good year. I think stuff will be late due to the weather back in May and June. Some of the prices have raised due to the price of fuel and seed."
When asked if local farmers were going toward a global market with food demand from around the world rising, he replied, "No we have not seen anything like that here We are on a local level."
"The best crops this year will be tomatoes. cabbage, beans, corn and everything in general."
"There has not been a lot of vegetables here yet because of the weather. We have had a good turnout. This is our second day and we are looking forward to having a successful year."
Legendary baseball Coach Jack Cook that helps his son Chip raise thousands of tomatoes on Cook Farms was already sold out. He expects more tomatoes by Saturday.
Coach Cook said, "Tomatoes this year are a little slow. We do not have many ripe ones yet. We had a few this morning. They are slow because we had a hard time getting on to the soil because of the wetness."
"When asked about rising prices, he replied, "They should be. Everything has doubled it seems like, the fertilizer, diesel fuel and gas. Everything is going out of sight."
"High prices concern everybody like people coming to the market and farmers that have to pay double for everything else."
"We will have to wait and see what happens. The flooding in the Midwest will cut back on food especially corn. There will be food shortages some place, hopefully not around here."
Earl Foglesong from Gallipolis Ferry had a good crop of corn for sale over coming early planting problems.
"It has been a little chilly and we had to much rain in spots that drowned out some of the corn, other then that it has been pretty good," he said.
"Our seed costs more this year and our fuel costs are out of sight. Our corn sells for $5.00 a dozen this year and last year it was $4.00."
Farmer Carl Fox from Proctorville, Ohio said, "Generally we have had good conditions. Ours is a little bit later and wetter We had a good hail storm that beat stuff up a little bit, but it has recovered. Overall it should be a good crop."
On higher prices he said, "They are up some. You can't compare it to a grocery store because we are one day away from the field and grocery stores are maybe ten days or from across the country. Freshness is a big selling point for us and it is local."
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By Chris Spencer
Huntingtonnews.net Photographer
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- Farmers and vegetable growers are selling their fresh produce one day away from the field at The Central City Market located at 14th Street West in Huntington.
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There are some excellent produce goods to be had this early in the season, but items like tomatoes can sell out quickly right after opening. As more vegetables and crops come to maturity more items are expected to be available.
On Tuesday, July 1, many farmers were sold out of product before 8 a.m.. More produce and farmers are expected to increase as the growing season progresses.
Dan Bartram, president of The Farmer's Market, said: "I think this year will be a good year. I think stuff will be late due to the weather back in May and June. Some of the prices have raised due to the price of fuel and seed."
When asked if local farmers were going toward a global market with food demand from around the world rising, he replied, "No we have not seen anything like that here We are on a local level."
"The best crops this year will be tomatoes. cabbage, beans, corn and everything in general."
"There has not been a lot of vegetables here yet because of the weather. We have had a good turnout. This is our second day and we are looking forward to having a successful year."
Legendary baseball Coach Jack Cook that helps his son Chip raise thousands of tomatoes on Cook Farms was already sold out. He expects more tomatoes by Saturday.
Coach Cook said, "Tomatoes this year are a little slow. We do not have many ripe ones yet. We had a few this morning. They are slow because we had a hard time getting on to the soil because of the wetness."
"When asked about rising prices, he replied, "They should be. Everything has doubled it seems like, the fertilizer, diesel fuel and gas. Everything is going out of sight."
"High prices concern everybody like people coming to the market and farmers that have to pay double for everything else."
"We will have to wait and see what happens. The flooding in the Midwest will cut back on food especially corn. There will be food shortages some place, hopefully not around here."
Earl Foglesong from Gallipolis Ferry had a good crop of corn for sale over coming early planting problems.
"It has been a little chilly and we had to much rain in spots that drowned out some of the corn, other then that it has been pretty good," he said.
"Our seed costs more this year and our fuel costs are out of sight. Our corn sells for $5.00 a dozen this year and last year it was $4.00."
Farmer Carl Fox from Proctorville, Ohio said, "Generally we have had good conditions. Ours is a little bit later and wetter We had a good hail storm that beat stuff up a little bit, but it has recovered. Overall it should be a good crop."
On higher prices he said, "They are up some. You can't compare it to a grocery store because we are one day away from the field and grocery stores are maybe ten days or from across the country. Freshness is a big selling point for us and it is local."
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