Jasper County has three farmers markets you need to visit

Market Master Diana Bowman works hard to strive for a vibrant night for the Remington community. Last year, the market had five vendors. This year, any Friday night can range from 15 to 20. That number can include food vendors, including meat, fresh veggies, and baked goods. But food isn’t where the farmers market stops: they also have crafts, pottery, unique wood items, jewelry, and more. The market also has a weekly food event, such as a food truck or fundraiser.

As a Market Master, Bowman is also in charge of getting the market in shape for its Friday night occurrence, including but not limited to: lining up vendors, getting contracts signed, ensuring everyone has their insurance and permits signed, and making sure everything is working smoothly. Bowman takes it one step further, she said, with weekly advertising including posting on Facebook about the weekly vendors and creating flyers for the events.

“I like to see all the good being done here,” Bowman said. “I like to see things go back into the community; it includes all walks of life.”

The Remington Farmers Market is held every Friday night from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST in the True Value parking lot until October, or at 508 N Harrison St in Remington. Community members can find the most information about it on its Facebook page, Remington Farmers Market. An Instagram page is coming soon.

Location, location, location is everything that comes with the Demotte Market in the Park. Demotte’s Spencer Park lights up with activity every Wednesday night during the summer months for Demotte’s Market in the Park. The market, which occurs every Wednesday in June and July from 4-8 p.m. CST, includes over 30 vendors with baked goods, handmade wood items, face painting, balloon art, meals, and more. There’s also a bounce house, and tickets for all-day jumping are $10. They also have a yard sale.

The schedule is as follows. From 5-6 p.m, there’s live storytelling and a craft. From 6-7 p.m, there’s live free music performed in the amphitheater. From 7-8 p.m., there’s a sponsor party for whichever local entity has sponsored the movie in the park that week, where they can choose to hand out their information, hand out popcorn, bubbles, or whatever else they want. From dusk onward, usually around 8 p.m, there’s a free movie on the green, shown in the amphitheater.

The market manager, Belinda Moran, has been managing the park for the past 12-15 years. She said everyone always says that the market is always the “nicest little market,” and it’s something that makes her very proud.

“The pool is open. The playground is open,” she said, mentioning how there’s so much to do for every age that visits the market.

Information can be found on the Market in the Park’s Facebook page. The market can be found on the sidewalks of Spencer Park or at 112 Carnation St SE in DeMotte.

The Rensselaer Farmers Market is the only one in Jasper County that can boast two days of the market during the later seasons of the summer. The market manager, Brandy Luttrell, said managing the farmers market doesn’t stop when the market does, but regardless, she enjoys every minute of it.

At the Rensselaer Farmers Market, shoppers can find fresh and locally grown fruit, meats, honey, coffee, baked goods, flowers, plants, artisan items, and more. Luttrell said that the importance of the farmers market is that most of the seller’s items come right from Jasper County.

“It allows the community the opportunity to purchase right from the grower so the quality of what they are buying is higher and obviously tastes much better than something that has traveled on a trailer to get to our stores,” said Luttrell. “Our produce has spent more time on the vine, on the tree, or in the ground so you are getting a better taste and more nutrients. When it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, the shorter the time and distance from farm to sale, the higher the levels of vitamins and minerals. Eating [locally] is not only tastier, it’s also much healthier for our families,” said Luttrell.

The Rensselaer Farmers Market is open from the first Saturday in May to the last Saturday in October. Saturday hours run from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CST. During July and August, the market is also open on Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m. CST. The Kid’s Farmers Market is on July 30.

Information can be found on their facebook page, Rensselaer Farmers Market. The market is located at S. Cullen and Harrison St. in Rensselaer.