CARBONDALE COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET
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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!


Flora Bay Farm

Farmer: 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 Organics

Farmer: 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!



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!



Mileur Orchards

Market 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. 



Mustard Seed Sowers

Farmer: 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 Produce

Market 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. 


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.

Mclaughlin Strawberries and Produce

Miller Tater Farm

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 Farm

Farmer: Phil Mendenhal and Dylan Byrd
Location: Anna
Specialities: Blueberries, green beans, and seasonal produce
Growing practices: Sustainable

Sharon's Fabrics 

Crafter: Sharon Ezell 
Location: Herrin
Specialities: Quilted purses, aprons, wallets, t-shirts and other fabric creations.

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