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Ranjana Hans explains the benefits of her products to a customer on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. Hans, owner of Raw Roots Turmeric, first began growing turmeric in her backyard and has since expanded her operation.
From left: Carole Randerson and Mike Randerson share a meal from the farmers market on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. The Randersons said that though they are often out of town, they make an effort to visit the farmers market whenever they can.
Vendor Dennis Cramer organizes his tomatoes on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. Cramer sells mostly tomatoes and peppers but he recalled that wasn’t always the case. “We used to everything — beets, potatoes. But these days you just can’t find the help,” Cramer said.
A customer inspects vegetables from the Abounding Acres farmers market stall on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. The market had food trucks, live music and vendors selling meats, produce, beverages and baked goods.
Ranjana Hans displays her spices on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. Hans grows the turmeric she sells herself, but she says it presents a unique challenge in the Missouri climate. “It’s different to grow turmeric in Columbia. It takes seven to nine months so you have to move it between inside and outside,” Hans said.
Ranjana Hans explains the benefits of her products to a customer on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. Hans, owner of Raw Roots Turmeric, first began growing turmeric in her backyard and has since expanded her operation.
Singer and guitarist Mick Byrd performs for the farmers market on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. There is live music at every market and Byrd was the first performer of this year’s Wednesday market.
From left: Carole Randerson and Mike Randerson share a meal from the farmers market on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. The Randersons said that though they are often out of town, they make an effort to visit the farmers market whenever they can.
A vendor displays their selection of breads and meats on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. Saturday markets have continued throughout the year, but this was the first of the seasonal Wednesday markets.
Vendor Dennis Cramer organizes his tomatoes on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. Cramer sells mostly tomatoes and peppers but he recalled that wasn’t always the case. “We used to everything — beets, potatoes. But these days you just can’t find the help,” Cramer said.
McKinley Worley sells his produce to Tom Winkel on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. Columbia Farmers Market is open 3 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday from May 24 to Sept. 27.
A customer inspects vegetables from the Abounding Acres farmers market stall on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. The market had food trucks, live music and vendors selling meats, produce, beverages and baked goods.
Ranjana Hans displays her spices on Wednesday at MU Health Care Pavilion in Columbia. Hans grows the turmeric she sells herself, but she says it presents a unique challenge in the Missouri climate. “It’s different to grow turmeric in Columbia. It takes seven to nine months so you have to move it between inside and outside,” Hans said.
As customers entered the first Wednesday Columbia Farmers Market of the summer, they were greeted with the sounds of Missouri musician Mick Byrd and smells from several food trucks.
The farmers market will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday until Sept. 27. The farmers market will also continue on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon until October. The Wednesday farmers market will be held in Columbia’s Agriculture Park, located at 1769 W. Ash St.
Shoppers browsed at the Raw Roots Turmeric stand, where they could choose from four types of turmeric. Turmeric offers anti-inflammatory benefits, Ranjana Hans, founder, said. One of the turmerics was white, and Hans said white turmeric helps with digestion.
Attendees purchased a variety of empanadas from the Amore E Gusto stand, which included vegetarian options or ground beef and potatoes. Carmen Febres, who was working the stand, said it was her first year selling at the farmers market, and that she used to sell empanadas in Mexico.
A few tables down, Augie Cook, co-owner of Altai Meadows, presented fresh vegetables along with grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken. Cook talked about the process of moving pasture-raised chickens, and said she moves the chickens from one area to another to ensure they are continuing to eat fresh grass.
The Hickory Ridge Orchard table presented fresh jams, slushes and lemonade shakeups, which were being offered for the first time. Belle Graves, who was working at the stand, said the orchard wanted to see how serving lemonade shakeups would go.
Customers could also buy a cup of coffee from Fretboard Coffee before they walked to the other side of the pavilion where there were food trucks.
Corrina Smith, executive director of the Columbia Farmers Market, said the farmers market had tried selling on different days of the week, and at different locations, but after last summer Smith said holding the event on Wednesday seemed to be the right time.
Smith said the Wednesday market is a great opportunity for somebody that wants to experiment and see if the farmers market model is good for their business. She said Wednesday can serve as a starting place for a new vendor because it takes time for a new business to have enough product for a farmers market that features 5000 to 6000 people, like the Saturday farmers market.
Smith also said that the vendor fees for Wednesday are less than Saturday, and the farmers market on Saturday is currently sold out.
Smith said the long-term goal of the Wednesday market is to create something similar to the one on Saturday.
Reporter for the Missourian, Summer 2023, Studying Journalism, reach me at kgumcp@umsystem.edu or in the newsroom at 882-5700.
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Assistant city editor, summer 2023. Studying journalism and public history with a minor in constitutional democracy. Reach me at sbcdbv@umsystem.edu, or in the newsroom at 882-5720.
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