Believe it or not, Labor Day Weekend is upon us. In preparation for the holiday, KXCV’s Gavin McGough caught up with Beth Burchett, longtime Manager of the Pony Express Farmer’s Market, for some inspiration as summer cookout season winds down.
So what's fresh? What's on offer for the holiday weekend?
Burchett says, "Right now we still have corn, but it's gonna end here real soon. We still have some vendors bringing peaches and watermelon and cantaloupe. New coming Saturday, we'll have our flour lady that's bringing mums, that's a big event for our farmer's market.
There's quite a variety still. We have one vendor that has Asian green beans that are almost three foot long. That's a new thing. Then we have some that is called a snake bean that's about probably three foot long. It's more like a cucumber, but she offers some nice heirloom tomatoes and different varieties that the other vendors do not carry. So it's nice to always visit her booth."
Oh my, a three foot long green bean. I guess you just have to buy one.
Burchett replies, " No kidding."
All right. Well it sounds like the big final produce push before the end of summer.
"Yes. Now is the time that if you wanna do any canning or freezing, time to come and get everything that is still lingering for the season, but it's gonna end pretty quick.", says Burchett.
You have vendors who bring a lot of of produce for anybody who wants to put those things away.
"Yes, we do. We have a couple vendors that bring canned tomatoes, every market. Uh, so you can get your salsas and canned tomatoes done.", says Burchett.
I understand you do some canning and preserving in your family. What do you like to prep for Winter?
Burchett answers, " We do corn. We cut it off the cob and we freeze it for the holidays, you know, coming up and like Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. That is our big one. And she's also, my mom is still making her homemade jams for the market, so that's busy and, and then we also sell local honey."
Great. Well, I hope everyone gets down to the market this weekend. Tell us one more time when you are all set up.
Burchett says, "We are out there every Wednesday and Saturday, and we'll be till the end of October, the last Saturday in October. That way when the pumpkins do come in, people can do their fall decorations and get their pumpkins for their kids to carve."
All right. And if you want the freshest peaches, you better get there right at 7:00 AM. Is that right?
"Yes, that's right. The line starts early on Saturdays.", says Burchett.
Okay. Thanks Beth. Uh, we'll talk to you next time. That was Beth Burchett, longtime manager of the Pony Express Farmer's Market, which takes place at the East Hills Mall parking lot in St. Joseph, Missouri on Saturday and Wednesday mornings through October.
