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Fall favorites at the River City Farmers Market

Crisp fresh apples, tasty cider, bright orange pumpkins and beautiful Indian corn. Yes, autumn is officially here and that means new offerings at the River City Farmers Market. As the seasons change, so does what you can find at the market.

Every Saturday year-round, the River City Farmers market is open from 8 a.m. to noon offering whatever produce is fresh and in season, plus a lot more.

According to Linda Fagan, who has a booth at the market, the River City Farmers Market goes back to around 1999. It used to be under the Williamstown Bridge and then moved to the Washington County Fairgrounds.

The market has many vendors outside and other vendors inside the building. Some vendors come year-round while others taper off in late fall and come back in the spring. Even in the winter months they are open inside the building.

Fagan commented, “This is the first weekend vendors are offering cider. Pumpkins, gourds, mums Indian corn, popcorn and sweet potatoes are also being sold.”

Inside their building, baked goods, crafts, sewing, woodworking and other items are sold. Vendors also sell meat such as beef, pork, chicken, rabbit and goat.

Hickerson’s Never Never Fruit Far, from Malta, is a vendor that sells apples and fresh cider. Angela Hickerson said, “This is our first week for cider. We’re picking apples and adding new varieties each week.”

Her husband John Hickerson said, “Our orchard has been in business continuously since 1960. My dad started it.”

Hickerson said, “Melrose and Grimes Golden apples are some old apple varieties that are very popular, but hard to find anymore. In the summer, we sell peaches, plums and cherries. This is a very good market. We’ve been part of this market for 18 years.”

Marshall Kremer and his son, Zak, 10, visited the market Saturday and bought some apples.

Marshall said, “I came down today to get some eggs and to see what else they have. I got some red delicious apples today and I got to talk with some people. I usually come here each week.”

Nat Sistrunk, of Belpre, sells honey. He is owner of Nat’s Nectars Wildflower Honey. Sistrunk has local apiaries in Belpre, Vincent and North Parkersburg. “This is my first year selling honey here,” said Sistrunk. “It’s going great. The farmers market is a unique community and I’ve come to appreciate it more every day.”

Huck Farms had a very colorful stand Saturday. Tana Huck said they have winter squash and pumpkins coming and will also have eggplant this fall.

Paul Barth, of Devola, was selling potatoes. Currently he has Kennebec potatoes and two types of sweet potatoes, white and orange. He said he should have those through November.

“We’ve been at this for almost a month and we started making cider this week,” said Tom Burch of Hidden Hills Orchard of Marietta. “We’ll be picking and selling apples through October.”

Mike Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Farms in Torch said, “We have end-of-the-season green beens, tomatoes and, in coming weeks, we’ll be selling Indian corn, popcorn and dried beans.”

Murphy said he sells at the market year-round.

“We sell eggs, poultry, honey and maple syrup. We’ll have broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage late into November.”

Murphy said the market has been doing well.

“We want the community to know we are their year-round farmers market. Our product is picked fresh and handed to the customer at its peak flavor and quality. We would like to educate the younger crowd about what we have to offer. I am starting to see younger people come in and it’s important. We are competitive to any store with what we are selling.”

“I bought some apples today and I also bought some cider, eggs and tomatoes,” said Tom Stalek, of St. Mary. “This is the best farmers market in this area.”

“There’s good produce in the Mid-Ohio Valley. It’s top notch,” commented Stalek. “I’ve been all over the country and this is about as good as it gets when it comes to produce.”

There was a new vendor was at the market Saturday. Joyful Jars, owned by Misty Warden of Kimbolton, sells delicious jams, jellies and baked goods. Warden said everything is homemade. Everything is reduced sugar so you taste more of the fruit.

Warden mentioned, “I like the atmosphere here. There’s so many vendors here that have quality items that you don’t usually find at a farmers market. It makes for a nice place to shop.”

Tammy Hughlett, of Marietta, has a booth and sells knitted items, painted ornaments and other items. She is also the organizer of special events for the River City Farmers Market.

An upcoming event is “Trick or Treat” for kids at the market on Saturday, Oct. 29. Children can come by any time between 8 a.m. and noon. Vendors will be handing out candy, apples and small handmade items for each child. Also, there will be a decorating table where youth can decorate pumpkins and stickers to take home. Hughlett  said parents can feel comfortable that the farmers market is a safe zone area where children can trick or treat without worry.

Other events throughout the year include a Soup Day in November and a Christmas event in December with Santa.

Normally, the end of October is when vendors will start moving inside for the winter months.

The River City Farmers Market is open each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Washington County Fairgrounds. It helps support our local farmers and economy. If anyone is interested in being a vendor at the market, call Tom Fagan at 740-516-6253.

DOUG LOYER Special to the Times Debbie Murphy tends to the Murphy Farms stand at the River City Farmers Market.

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