Vendor Profiles
Get to know the farmers at the Community Farmers Market and know your food! Our small market is the perfect environment for building relationships with growers and building an deeper relationship with where your food comes form. Spend some time getting to know our fabulous small producers on the web and at the market!
2016 Downtown Vendors
Coming soon!
2015 Summer Vendors
Homer Grown
Farmer: Homer Jenkins
Market team: Homer and Angela Jenkins and Makayla Location: Murphysboro Specialities: Sweet corn, green beans, melons, and everything in between. You name it, he'll grow it! Growing practices: Conventional Fun facts: Prior to growing vegetables, Homer raised hogs. He got out of the hog business in 1999, but still has nightmares about forgetting to feed his hogs! |
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Flora Bay FarmFarmer: Courtney Smith
Location: Carbondale Specialities: Pollinator friendly flower bouquets, fresh cut herbs, heirloom tomatoes and unique produce varieties Growing practices: Sustainable ("As natural as possible- no chemicals, no sprays-not even organic approved.") Fun facts: Flora Bay Farm is more botanical garden than farm. After removing a large tree stump, Courtney expanded the hole and made a frog pond. The frogs eat insects and add to the biodiversity of the farm. Many of the garden beds are organic in shape, rather than straight lines. "It may not be as efficient," Courtney says, "but it's much more fun than staring down a 100 foot row of the same crop." |
Farmer: Courtney Smith
Countrysprout OrganicsFarmer: Bruce and Maryanne Chrisman
Market team: Bruce, Maryanne and Ben Chrisman Location: Carbondale Specialities: Organic carrots, cherry tomatoes, kale, and other seasonal produce Growing practices: Certified organic Fun facts: Bruce and Maryanne got into organic farming back in the 1970's. They grew sprouts commercially and sold them throughout the region, hence the name Countrysprout. Though the took a break from markets while pursuing careers, their commitment to local organic produce never wavered. In 2011, were inspired to return to farming after visiting a year round farmers market in Cincinnati. Soon after they returned from their trip, Bruce was digging a high tunnel and planting green and cucumbers. Bruce has masted the art of carrot cultivation and are a staple of our winter farmers market! |
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SIU Sustainable Farm to Fork
Farmer: April Vigardt and SIU student workers
Location: Carbondale
Specialities: Asian greens, unique and heirloom varieties, late season tomatoes
Growing practices: Sustainable
Fun facts: SIU Sustainable farm often conducts research at their farm site. Those delicious Asian greens you were getting early this season were part of a research grant to help area farmers choose which varieties do best in this climate and which varieties customers prefer. Tasty and educational!
Location: Carbondale
Specialities: Asian greens, unique and heirloom varieties, late season tomatoes
Growing practices: Sustainable
Fun facts: SIU Sustainable farm often conducts research at their farm site. Those delicious Asian greens you were getting early this season were part of a research grant to help area farmers choose which varieties do best in this climate and which varieties customers prefer. Tasty and educational!
Mileur OrchardsMarket team: Gaylyn and Shelby
Farmer: Howard Mileur Baker: Lisa Mileur Location: Murphysboro Specialities: Peaches, nectarines, apples, pies, cobblers, jams, butters and sauces Growing practices: Conventional Fun facts: Some of the oldest apple trees on the orchard are the Lodi apples planted by Howard and Gaylyn's father. Mileur Orchards is known for their early season varieties of peaches and apples, including the tart Lodi apples. |
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Mustard Seed SowersFarmer: Orlan Mayes
Location: Carbondale Specialities: Green and cut herbs Growing practices: Sustainable Fun facts: Orlan grows food at urban plots around the Carbondale area. Urban agriculture isn't restricted to big cities like St. Louis or New York. It can and IS happening right here in Carbondale! |
Karl Sweitzer ProduceMarket team: Karl Sr. and Anita Sweitzer
Farmer: Karl Sweitzer III and family Location: Cobden, IL Specialties: Summer squash, peppers, tomatoes and everything in between! Growing Practices: conventional Fun facts: Karl III learned to farm from his uncle and continues a long legacy of Sweitzer farmers in southern Illinois. |
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Big Muddy Hogs and Poultry
Farmers: Roger Schuttek and Tina Benz
Location: Hurst
Specialities: Free range eggs, pastured Mulefoot pork
Fun facts: Big Muddy Hogs specializes in a heritage breed of hogs called Mulefoot. American Mulefoot's are known for producing lean meat, lard and high quality hams. Though once a standard hog breed among hog producers, they went out of favor in the 1960's along with the rise of factory farming and are now classified as a critically endangered breed. Roger and Tina are contributing to work being done to bring the Mulefoots breeding stock back up and producing some high quality pork in the process.
Our very own Courtney Smith wrote an article for the Coop's newsletter Morsel. Check out her full report here.
Location: Hurst
Specialities: Free range eggs, pastured Mulefoot pork
Fun facts: Big Muddy Hogs specializes in a heritage breed of hogs called Mulefoot. American Mulefoot's are known for producing lean meat, lard and high quality hams. Though once a standard hog breed among hog producers, they went out of favor in the 1960's along with the rise of factory farming and are now classified as a critically endangered breed. Roger and Tina are contributing to work being done to bring the Mulefoots breeding stock back up and producing some high quality pork in the process.
Our very own Courtney Smith wrote an article for the Coop's newsletter Morsel. Check out her full report here.
Mclaughlin Strawberries and Produce |
Miller Tater Farm |
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Farmer: Greg Mclaughlin and family
Location: Murphysboro Specialities: Strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers Growing practices: Conventional |
Farmer: Don Miller
Location: Makanda Specialities: Sweet potatoes, and seasonal produce Growing practices: no pesticides, some chemical fertilizers |
Back Achers FarmFarmer: Phil Mendenhal and Dylan Byrd
Location: Anna Specialities: Blueberries, green beans, and seasonal produce Growing practices: Sustainable |
Sharon's FabricsCrafter: Sharon Ezell
Location: Herrin Specialities: Quilted purses, aprons, wallets, t-shirts and other fabric creations. |