Farmers Market kicks off Saturday for summer run

    A Farmers Market will again fill the area known as the City Square south of the Imperial city offices complex.
    Beginning Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and running until October, people are invited to sell garden produce, homemade products and fundraising products to the public.
    This is the second year the Market has been held at the site. A number of years ago the Imperial Chamber of Commerce sponsored a market downtown.
    An informal committee is now in charge of the Farmers Market.  According to member Jan Graham, the purpose is to “encourage people to share what they have with other local people.”
    Those wishing to sell items such as fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, craft items or processed foods must fill out a vendor agreement. That agreement is available by contacting Graham at jangraham.69@gmail.com. She will also have forms and information at the Market Saturday so that people may participate that day.
    The vendor agreement includes rules for displaying products, etiquette and compliance with health department guidelines for food safety.
    Another member of the committee, Tyler Pribbeno, said there was a wide variety of vendors last year.
    “It was fun. I hope it continues to grow. People like me like to go and find produce. If anyone has extra produce they want to share, there’s no cost to set up,” he said.
    The Imperial Farmers Market has received a boost from Skylar Falter, partner of former Imperial resident Matt Pirog. She is an employee of Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska, of which the Imperial Farmers Market is a member.
    She has interviewed committee members and is “putting together a piece on our Farmers Market for a newsletter,” Pribbeno said. The organization assists farmers markets to organize and promote their produce and products, Pribbeno added.
    As of last weekend there were two persons registered to sell at the opener, Graham said, with hopefully more by this weekend. She expects more vendors as the summer progresses and produce ripens in gardens.
    More information about the Imperial event can be found on Facebook at Imperial Farmers Market.