The Capital City Farmers Market will hold a grand opening Saturday morning.
The event will feature a drawing for a farmers market gift basket. A vendor will do face-painting for children. The deli will offer samples of burritos, cheeseburgers, sliders and chicken noodle soup. And market vendors will offer samples of their produce.
The market, formerly the Downtown Farmers Market, had been operating for a few years before it began to transform. Recently, it became the Capital City Farmers Market and organizers began looking for a permanent indoor site that would allow it to operate during any weather. The downtown market had moved between several outdoor sites over the years.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the market is eligible to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Electronic Benefit Transfer cards. A SNAP match means users are eligible to double their cards' spending power. It remains the only market in Cole County that participates in SNAP.
When they were given access to the 22,000-square-foot former Blattner Building in 2017, market organizers thought they'd found their permanent home. But they wanted a commercial kitchen and it would have been too costly to install in that structure. However, they went to "Plan B" and received access to the smaller building next door, at 130 E. Dunklin St., where Welcome Inn Again previously was located and a kitchen was already in place.
The market has been operating at the site since May 5.
The market features fresh green beans, new potatoes, gooseberries, snap peas, tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, rhubarb, onions, root crops, greens, zucchini, cucumbers, herbs, pecans, jellies, flavored butters, baked items, plants, honey, gelato, eggs, pork, beef, chicken, turkey, and fresh salads and sandwiches prepared at the market deli to eat there or take home.
Now, operators are ready to hold an official grand opening from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at 130 E. Dunklin St.
For more information, go to capitalcityfarmersmarket.org or visit Capital City Farmers Market on Facebook.