Ferguson Farmers' Market Opens for its Eleventh Season Saturday

Although many North County residents will be planning their weekend around Florissant’s annual Valley of Flowers festival, Saturday morning might be reserved for Ferguson.

The Ferguson Farmers' Market will open its outdoor season Saturday for its eleventh year.

Market Manager Kathy Noelker said that she received 29 new vendor applications for the season, which brings the booth total to 44 at 20 S. Florissant. Vendors not only include farmers with their fresh products but also a number of food vendors, such as Becker Brothers Barbecue who will make their debut this year at the market.

Noelker assures that customers can be fed from 8 a.m. until the closing of the market.

“We want to be a gathering spot, not just a shopping place,” she said.

At the heart of it all are a number of local vendors and farmers for people to check out, such as EarthDance from Mueller Organic Farm, Hahn Farm and Mast Amish Produce and Bakery. Noelker also pointed out the aquaponic farmer, who is a person who uses a method of farming through water. She said he’s able to farm year-round and produce items such as lettuce and mushrooms.

One of the vendors she’s most excited for people to check out is PieCraft, where the woman who runs the booth sells pies such as pear and fig.

“This is not pie with cherries on top,” she said. “These are handcrafted individually. This will be a great addition.”

North County families might be interested in the special events that happen each weekend at the market. For example, in conjunction with the Ferguson Twilight Run May 18, the market will host a Health and Wellness Day Fair. That following weekend, children and their parents might get a kick out of watching a sheep shearing demonstration and enjoy petting them.

The biggest highlight of the market comes Aug. 17 when it hosts Germanfest.

As the eleventh year lifts off, Noelker said she’s excited to see the growth of the market—the market started with eight to 10 vendors—and to have another year open.

The Ferguson Farmers market opens at 8 a.m. and closes at noon. The market will be outdoors until Oct. 26.