U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared Aug. 3 to 9 as the 15th annual National Farmers Market Week, celebrating the nation’s thousands of farmers markets, the farmers who make them possible, and the communities that host them. “Farmers markets play a key role in developing local and regional food systems that support family farms and help grow rural economies,” Vilsack said.
We at Arkansas Farm Bureau and Taste Arkansas ask you to join us in celebrating our local farmers and our local farmers markets. Each day this week, we will introduce you to one of the markets we love (there are so many, it was hard to narrow it down). For tips on shopping at your local farmer’s market, go read my Six tips to a winning farmers market experience.
The Gateway Farmers Market in Texarkana, Arkansas
The Gateway Farmers Market in Texarkana, Arkansas, is a thriving farmer’s market, supplying healthy produce to the Ark-la-tex for at least 16 years. The Gateway Market is certified local, with vendor applications checked with farm visits by market personnel. Their motto is, “If we do not raise it, we will not sell it.” On a recent busy Saturday, a vendor reported that market workers counted over 1000 shoppers. Some market favorites include Hope and Fulton melons and Nashville peaches, as well as fruits and veggies, farm fresh eggs, and baked goods from the region including Miller County, Arkansas, and Bowie County, Texas. The market represents growers in both Texas and Arkansas, since Texarkana is a border city. The market is run by the Miller County Extension Agency and the dedicated work of the Miller County Master Gardeners.
The Gateway Market is an all-weather, covered market, open every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 7:00am (or earlier!). To learn more, visit their Facebook page or call the Miller County Extension Office at (870) 779-3609.