Demonstrations and work of volunteers highlight Poplar Head Farmers Market

Fresh produce, music, art projects and product demonstrations were the order of the day last Saturday morning during the Poplar Head Farmers Market. Vendors from throughout the Wiregrass were on hand to meet the public’s demand for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Don Wambles, director of the State of Alabama Farmers Market Authority, was also in town to observe the new open-air market. His agency administers the WIC program and the Senior Farmers Market Program. It’s his agency’s responsibility to give the seal of approval for such markets to accept food vouchers under those two programs. He noted the concept of the farmers market has blossomed in the last 10 years.

“In 1999, there were 17 markets in Alabama that our agency recognized,” said Wambles, a former farmer who resides in Troy. “Today, there are 113 markets across the state that we recognize.”

Wambles credits part of that growth to the needs of the consumer. He also says a bigger emphasis on educating the public about the value of such markets will allow for more growth.

“When any organization or community starts a farmers market, they are asking the consumer to do something they haven’t done,” Wambles said of the public’s willingness to buy local goods. “We need to educate them to come to the farmers market to buy fresh produce.”

A second reason for growth in this type of market comes from an area’s sense of community.

“A farmers market is a place where the community can come together and talk about things, about issues that concern the community,” Wambles said. “And they can do it with one thing in common - the food we eat.”

Wambles enjoys helping markets like Poplar Head get up and running.

“We work with communities all across the state who want to do a farmers market,” Wambles said. “We provide guidance and information on things that work and will not work. We try to give them a lot of choices on how to set up their market.”

Wambles farmed for 20 years. Because of that experience, he says he has a lot of empathy for what today’s farmers are facing. Because of his experience, he believes the concept of a farmers market is a win-win situation for the farmer and the consumer.

“I made my last crop in 1995,” Wambles said. “I would miss a crop, make a crop. That was difficult. Then, Hurricane Opal helped convince me of what my wife couldn’t convince me of. I needed to get out of farming. After Opal, I decided my wife had been right. That’s when I started looking for something else to do. Fortunately, this job was open, and the Good Lord blessed me with it.

“To be honest, I didn’t think I’d find anything as satisfying as farming, but I did. I love what I do. I work with farmers from one end of the state to another.

“I’m pleased with the growth of the farmers markets. They are a win-win situation for the farmer and the consumer. They bring the two of them together.”

Some subtle changes have taken place in how farmers markets operate.

“In the beginning, the markets were usually held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings,” Wambles said. “But that really didn’t fit the schedule of most consumers. Many of the market organizers recognized this and started changing them to afternoons. That lets them get the people when they get off work.”

Another change came with the advent of Saturday markets. Like Poplar Head Farmers Market, many of the Saturday events have expanded beyond farmers selling their produce. The downtown Dothan event combines art, music, demonstrations and other activities to make it a family affair.

The idea of demonstrating their product convinced Bob and Lynne McMath, owners of Golden Harvest of Clayton, to participate in the Poplar Head Farmers Market. Golden Harvest mills grain - wheat and oats - for purchase by the public.

The business has its roots the Y2K fears. The family stocked up with products, like whole wheat.

Although the public’s fears were unfounded, the McMaths discovered a blessing for their family.

“We ate the wheat that we bought for Y2K for 10 year’s,” Lynne McMath said. “We wanted to buy more.”

There was just one catch.

“Bob found out that it was expensive to order a small amount,” Mrs. Math noted.

That led to a 5,000-pound order from a company called Wheat, Montana.

“We like homemade bread,” Mrs. McMath continued. “It’s good nutrition.”
Homemade bread has its benefits - in nutritional value and in cost.

“Food prices are going up,” Mrs. McMath said. “I can make a loaf of bread (from whole wheat) that provides a lot protein and vitamins for my family. It’s healthy for them. And it also stretches our groceries.”

Bob McMath, a firefighter at Fort Rucker, believes in the healthy benefits of the product he sells.

“I don’t just believe in this, I love it,” McMath said. “If i eat it consistently, I will lose weight. You get protein and vitamins from it. It satisfies you.”

With each bag or bucket of milled whole wheat that they sell, the McMaths also provide helpful recipes and cooking tips. And, because the wheat is nitrogen-packed, McMath says it has a much longer shelf life that store-bought bread products.

“When the grain comes in from the field, it’s a natural product,” McMath said. “Nitrogen is heavier than air. It displaces the air in the wheat and kills anything in it. The grain will virtually live forever. It will have no bugs, moisture or oxygen in it.”

While the vendors take care of their customers, there are another group of individuals hard at work to make the market a success. First Baptist Church supplies volunteers each Saturday morning to assist the vendors and the consumers.

Mike Jones says volunteering at the farmers market is a natural outgrowth of the ministry of First Baptist Church.

“Our pastor (Dr. Johnny Fain) was approached by Cathy Cole (executive director of The Downtown Group) to assist in this effort,” Jones said. “We’re a downtown church. Taking part in an event like this gets us outside the four walls of our building.”

The volunteers arrive before the market opens and leave long after the last shopper has left.

“When the vendors arrive, we help them set up,” Jones said. “After that, we check and see if anyone needs help to take merchandise to their cars. When the day is over, we help take the tents down.

“We’re here every Saturday to assist in any way that we can.”