Kokomo Farmers Market draws a crowd on Saturdays
The Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market opens just about every Saturday from May through September, and hundreds of people turn out to pick up fresh meats and produce, select baked goods of every sort, and to find that special gift or decoration they didn’t even realize they needed.
It’s a time each week to celebrate the local community while supporting small entrepreneurs, and there’s always room for more to join the party. For those maintaining booths at the market, it is more than a chance to sell their items. It’s an opportunity to build something bigger.
“It's outreach,” said David McKibben, who maintains a booth for Developmental Services Inc. (DSI). “This way people will know we are there in case they need our services. Another reason we participate is we have clients who may come and help.”
McKibben is a licensed baker who often comes up with his own recipes for products to sell at the market. He has cooked and baked professionally for nearly 25 years, but hadn’t found many outlets for his creativity until he came across DSI.
Now, he not only bakes for DSI’s farmers market booth, he has clients help him.
“We actually can give them money for doing it, too,” said McKibben. “They help me do this here and at Pipe Creek Mercantile.”
As a result, the clients engage in an enriching activity which allows them to reinforce social skills and even learn a little bit about running a business.
DSI is one of several booths offering baked goods. Shoppers can pick up sweet treats or hearty breads on any given Saturday throughout the season. But there is much more to experience, especially as harvest time nears. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers pop up across the market, beckoning customers with the promise of wonderful tastes, scents, and sights.
One booth that is a mainstay at the Market belongs to Ervin Meats. Tom Wilson and his family started the business in 2021. Rather than raise livestock for market, they have opted to offer fresh meats at area farmers markets and local restaurants. But it all started at the Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market.
“We tried this, and it's been a success,” said Wilson. “We're in Kokomo, and we're also in Zionsville. We have meat for sale at The Radish downtown, and we supply The Coterie with all their hamburger.”
Wilson explained that they sell product out of their home in the off-season, but it is the farmers market experience that he enjoys most.
“I enjoy seeing the people,” said Wilson. “When you're farming, you don't get out much. We raised livestock all my life, but I never knew my customers. We sold them to Tyson or wherever, and that was it. It’s sort of cool to see your customers. I love meeting the people.”
The Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market organizers and sponsors are dedicated to providing Howard County with a unique experience, promoting education, small business development, and the arts. This year, those efforts are greatly supported by Duke Energy, Howard County Government, and St. Patrick Church.
Other organizations that support the Market through participation include the Kokomo Howard County Public Library, which brings out its Bookmobile regularly, and Community Howard Regional Health, which is eager to roll out its CareMobile to offer free screenings and health advice.
The Market also features live music nearly every weekend, and several nonprofits maintain booths at various times to share information about services. The League of Women Voters is on hand, for instance, to register people to vote. And the Market itself is engaged in education, offering demonstrations and information about nature, nutrition, and gardening through its Little Sprouts Market Club.
And the Market tries its best to allow access to nutrition for everyone. The Market accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and uses the “Double Bucks” incentive program to allow consumers up to $15 in additional funding to purchase fresh food.
The Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market is open each Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon at the intersection of Washington and Mulberry streets in downtown Kokomo. The Market runs through September. For more information, visit www.kokomofarmersmarket.com.