The Verde Valley Farmers Market will be returning for the season every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. from May 11 through Oct. 5 at the town ramada at 75 E. Hollamon Street in Camp Verde.
The market was started in 1993 by Denise Gould and Diane Scantlebury, who were both growing produce and found there was no market in Camp Verde. They started it in the parking lot of Wingfield Plaza with only three people before it moved to the front of the town building and is now at the town ramada.
“It’s grown immensely,” Gould said. “People’s taste buds have changed. They’ve gotten more aware of what’s being grown in their own backyard and they can taste the difference.”
Gould started Willowbrook Farm in Camp Verde with her two daughters, continuing their long family history of farming and ranching. Her daughter, Hilary Barnett, now manages the daily operations of the family farm. During harvest season, Barnett harvests early in the morning, then plants and seeds during the warmer parts of the day and does transplanting in the evening.
Willowbrook Farm grows a variety of crops and all will be available for sale depending on the time of year. Their cool season crops will be available on May 11, including garlic, radishes and salad greens. Warm season crops will include cucumbers, tomatoes and summer squash.
The market will host around 20 vendors this year, a number that fluctuates throughout the season, offering coffee, honey, nuts, breads and canned items as well as fresh produce. This year’s market is open to growers from across Yavapai County but will continue to give priority to Verde Valley growers.
“It really is a community market,” Gould said. “I think because it’s not privately owned and it’s a nonprofit effort that it’s kind of a gathering place for people. I think that has had a huge effect on its growth.”
“We try to make it affordable for the vendors to come and sell there,” Barnett said. “We charge a table fee, we don’t charge a percentage of sales, which a lot of other markets do. We try to support smaller growers and small local businesses.”
In connection with this objective, Barnett mentioned the Arizona Cottage Food Program, which has enabled small businesses to make items like baked goods, jams and jellies without having to lease out a commercial kitchen or obtain special licensing.
“We’ve got a lot of new vendors due to this program,” Barnett said.
The market also implements the Arizona Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, which enables qualified seniors and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children participants to get coupons to be spent at the market during the season. Seniors can sign up for vouchers at the market.
“It brings hundreds of people into Camp Verde,” Barnett said. “They shop at the market and then they go on and have breakfast or they go and shop. It brings in people from all over.”
The plant sale and raffle on the opening weekend will be the first of several events that the market will hold throughout the season. The plant sale will offer a selection of vegetables, annuals, perennials, cacti, succulents and houseplants. Willowbrook Farm has provided about 200 of those, and four other growers also contributed, including Sharon Marmaduke, who has grown milkweed, which attracts monarch butterflies. Pansies will be sold in handmade ceramic pots for Mother’s Day and a potting bench made by Randall Miller and a wheelbarrow will be raffled off. The proceeds from the sale directly benefit the market.
Other events throughout the season will include kids’ day on June 29. One of the vendors is a STEM and agriculture teacher and will have her students bring the produce they grew in their school garden. Corn Fest is scheduled for July 20, and the market has planned a garlic expo before the festival, while Aug. 31 will be salsa day. A pet adoption day with Bark & Bakery will take place in September on a date to be announced. Pets will be allowed at this year’s market.
The market is plastic bag-free. The market receives funding from Bashas to give out free reusable bags to vendors.
“It’s gotten to the point where we’re not giving out a huge amount of bags any longer,” said Barnett. “Our customers remember to bring their own bags. That’s been exciting.”
For more information, visit Verde Valley Farmers Market on Facebook or email verdevalleyfarmersmarket@ gmail.com.
