Farmers' Market returns to downtown on Saturday
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Staff photo by Barry Halvorson Working in the garden, Doug Warfel goes after weeds with a hoe while daughters Madison, right, and Brianna check for ripened squash in the family's garden.

Fresh produce is back on the menu again starting this Saturday with the return of the Wharton County Farmers' Market to Monterey Square in Wharton.

The market will be open from 9 a.m. to noon with an initial eight to 12 vendors offering fresh produce or various crafted items, Market Manager Diane Matula said. Among those vendors will be the Warfel family.

The pastor at Grace Community Fellowship, Doug Warfel along with his wife Stefanie and daughters Brianna, Madison and Sarah have a home garden that produces enough they have surplus to sell at the market, something that Madison enjoys.

"I like being outside so I enjoy working in the garden," she said. "And I like going to the market because we get money."

Older sister Brianna admitted to spending time in the garden on as needed basis, working hard during the planting as well as when it comes to harvest time.

Photo courtesy Pam Nash Farm fresh produce like these carrots are a regular item at the Wharton County Farmers' Market.

She added the results are worth the effort saying she prefers the taste of garden fresh to produce from the store.

Mom Stefanie said once the harvest starts, the family will spend anywhere from 35 minutes to an hour in the garden on a daily basis.

And since she home schools her children, she makes it more than just a chore.

"The girls are getting hand on experience with science, like botany," she said.

"They are getting more out of that than what they would learn from just reading about it."

While having access to fresh produce can make your dinner table more appealing, Doug added that it is also a growing market trend.

"With all the discussions of food shortages in the world, there is a growing trend to buy locally," he said. "And buying in season locally means you're going to get the freshest foods at a fair price."

In addition to the allure of fresh produce, the Farmer's Market has become a social activity in the years since it opened in the Spring of 2006.

"We'll also have live music and cooking demonstrations as we have had in the past," she said.

"And there will be a children's corner for the young ones again this year."

A seasonal event, the Wharton County Farmer's market is open from May to July and then again in November and December.

The market is always looking for new vendors and has a sign-up form available on its Web site, www.whartoncountyfarmersmarket. com. Potential customers can also visit the Web site to get a heads up on what produce will be available at each week's market.