SEASON'S FRESHEST PRODUCE AVAILABLE AT FARMER'S MARKET

Ready for the season's first tomatoes? How about sweet corn or fresh green beans?

The benefits of home-grown produce without the work of gardening are available at weekly farmer's markets in Cape Girardeau.

"I come because it's fresh; it's all home-grown and it's not been raised in some hot house," said Marilyn Huttegger of Cape Girardeau.

She carried a bag of cabbage, new potatoes, squash and sugar-snap peas. "I'm going home to stir fry," she said.

Huttegger said she loves fresh vegetables and enjoys the pickings at the farmer's markets. "Here, I can let someone else do the work."

Each Thursday 15 or more sellers set up their trucks, tables, baskets and bins at Town Plaza for the Cape Farmer's Market.

"Everything has to be home grown and produced by members of the family," said Marilyn Peters, president of the Cape Farmer's Market.

Growers come from Missouri and Illinois. About eight years ago Peters, the University of Missouri Extension office and a few other local growers started the market.

"We felt Cape Girardeau was ready for a farmer's market. We've had our ups and downs over the years," Peters said.

A recent piece on the television show "60 Minutes" about chemicals in produce was good for business at the market.

"Obviously the food is much fresher and much less chemicaled," Peters said. "We get rid of the preservatives, the coloring and waxing."

In fact, one grower at the Cape Farmer's Market advertises organically grown produce with no chemicals.

On Fridays and Saturdays shoppers can select fresh items at the Downtown Farmer's Market.

Evelyn Boardman said the Downtown Pavilion was built to host activities like the farmer's market.

"We don't start before Riverfest," she explained. This past weekend was the first for the downtown market, but items were slim and sold out quickly. "Unfortunately when we first start is right between growing seasons," Boardman said.

Last year, she said, the market hit its peak in mid July and continued through the fall.

"It's a lovely little place, and it's free," Boardman said.

Any area grower may set up shop on Fridays or Saturdays as long as items are home-grown and grown regionally.

"We grow everything ourselves, just him and I," said Rose Aldridge of Aldridge Produce in Cobden, Ill. They were selling last week at the Cape Farmer's Market.

The Aldridges take new potatoes and green beans and whatever else is in season to three farmer's markets weekly. "Otherwise we are in the field," Aldridge said.

"I think people like farmer's markets because they know it's fresher and it's locally grown. I believe that really does make a difference," she said.

Janet Goodin said she goes to the farmer's market every week to select produce. "It's always a little cheaper and a little fresher," Goodin said. "It lasts so long in the refrigerator. I think it's because it hasn't been shipped."

Last week she was purchasing cut flowers, blueberries, raspberries and tiny zucchini.

Karen Staat of Cape Girardeau carefully selected green beans and kohlrobi. "I know it's fresh and it will have a long shelf life," she said. "I also think it's a great way to help out local people and keep the money here."