By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The Fourth Annual Millington Fall Festival was held Saturday at the Millington Farmers’ Market. Since 2010, Millington residents have come to know the first Saturday in May as the opening of the Market and the last Saturday in October as it’s finale for the season. Vendors like Marla’s Garden and Larry Duncan’s Boiled Peanuts have been a fixture at the Millington Farmers’ Market the entire time. Over the years, vendors have set up shop offering fresh vegetables, homemade jams, arts, crafts and designer items under the roof the Market. 2013 was no different with several first-year merchants. Vendors like James Hoppis welcomed the new arrivals. Hoppis has been at the Market since 2010 and started selling his fresh herbs and chili powder three years ago. “This is a wonderful chance for us to offer things people don’t even realize is food,” Hoppis noted as he stood at the Joy Today booth. “Here you have five different tomatoes with five different taste. You can find that here.” All the vendor fellowship creating a family type environment. “We look forward to Saturday coming out and talking with each other,” Duncan said. “Then we get to know customers. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday.” Duncan and Hoppis welcome patrons with their booth. Then the next stop is the colorful, healthy arrangement of Marla’s Garden. Her homegrown veggies include eggplant, squash, sweet potatoes and greenbeans. Another garden is next to Marla’s with Mindy’s Garden. Mindy Farias come to the Market in June offering veggies, homemade breads and desserts made from fresh fruit. “I have a nerve disease,” Farias acknowledge. “I had been home and I love to garden. For me this is a way to share my work and meet people while selling healthy vegetables. I want to give people a healthy choice.” Next to Mindy’s Garden is Joy Today with owners Donna Schroeder and her daughter Dana Gray. They joined the Market in June as well. Schroeder’s table featured homemade cookies and veggies like pear and cherry tomatoes. And one corner of the table had homemade jams and preserves. Just feet away from Joy Today were students from Millington Central High School and the Millington Arts Council. The Council painted pumpkins donated by the Millington Arts and Recreation Department for area children. Savannah Keys, 5, came from her Millington home to pick up a pumpkin covered in many colors. MCHS Art Teacher Amy Lange was joined by students Dawn Taylor, Allysa Gardner, Rachel Meyer and Brittany Wright. The stop at the Arts Council’s station was the transition to the arts and craft side of the Market. Janet Alley’s Craft Alley is home to many crochet items and artwork. She has been a part of the Market for three years. Next to Alley was the booth Udderly Country with owners James and Linda Doan. The Millington residents offered homemade crafts, framed artwork and sports collectibles. Linda said their first year at the Market was outstanding and they plan to be back May 2014. Concluding a trip around the Millington Farmers’ Market 2013 means a stop at B&D Honey with owners Bill and Darla Dunn. The couple explains the process of jarring natural honey and all the advantages of using natural sweetners. Darla said being apart of Farmers’ Market each year is special. “It’s a blessing to be able to offer things like we do here,” she said. “It’s a special part of Millington.” Millington Farmers’ Market regular Lynnde Zunbrunnen agreed that coming to the market is a good way to fellowship. Zunbrunnen and her husband Brett bring their daughter and son each week and she said they will be back next year.
“We like talking to the vendors,” she said. “They are really nice and they have good brownies too.”
