Farmers Market Minute June 23, 2017 – Importance to Producers

Every day farmers are up at the crack of dawn, or earlier, to start the harvest and many of them have to pack up and head to a farmers market to sell their crop.

Kevin Achelpohl, owner of K&C Farms in Mattawa sayid they have been selling at markets for 19 years and are currently doing eight markets every week.

“We’re now at over 52 varieties of fruit we grow now and the majority of them are just for the farmers market.”

Achelpohl said it’s challenging to be a grower and in the market, but that his entire family is involved including his wife Christina, the C in K&C, and all three of his daughters to help be successful.

Another part of Achelpohl’s success is being passionate about his work.

“My wife and I, we plant not just unique varieties, but they taste exceptional and if I don’t like a variety, I won’t plant it.”

For many smaller farmers, or direct marketing farms, these kinds of opportunities are their income, or at least the great bulk of it which is why many will do multiple farmers markets per week, even if that means harvesting bright and early so they can go sell at a market 6 or 7 days a week.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.