FEATURE by Vicki Wood
Fall
Harvest J
ust as gardening season is winding down, so are most area farmers’ markets. But this is the perfect time to hit all of them, and we have quite a few in the lake area. Visiting the variety in different towns helps, and that shouldn’t be hard since there is so much available on varying week nights and weekends. One of the smallest and most underrated is one of the greatest markets the lake has to offer. The Roach Farm Market is so much more than your typical vendors at other locations. It happens every Sunday afternoon from 12 noon to 4 p.m. next door to Quiet Side Quick Stop on Hwy. AA. Approximately 10 vendors line up to serve some unique items as well as listen to live music on the small-event stage. Bring your lawn chair and kick back to the sounds of various local artists singing and playing acoustic guitar. There is some surprising talent that shows up to entertain market shoppers. Fresh cheesecake made by local sisters Freddie and Gena, who are also the market organizers, is sometimes available in keto variety and sells out fast. Fresh, authentic handmade Mexican is offered at one booth, with beans and rice. On this visit, pork street tacos were on the menu. Freddie and Gena say to come back when tamales are made. They are the real deal. Barista Go mobile coffee trailer offering frappes, smoothies and lattes which have become a hit with the crowds at Ozark Amphitheater this season. Of course, there is a small but beautiful variety of flowers, plants, produce, and baked goods presented by local farmers. These are the items that make a market visit a must at the end of the season. Get ready to load your freezers for winter. For the best variety of end-of-the-season harvest shopping opportunities, Camdenton Square Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings is the place to be. Get there early before the crowds which usually peak from 9-10 a.m. Extra-large farm operations set up at Camdenton Farmers Market in the square in front of the courthouse, some opening as early as 6 a.m., although the official shopping time is 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Many vendors start disassembling between 11 and 11:30 a.m. 20 VACATION NEWS
Lebanon’s Sun and Bloom Farms and the Tunas Mennonite Community booths join about four other vendors offering fresh homegrown produce at low prices. Both farms offer fresh cut flower bouquets that have seasonal additions. A coffee vendor/baker from Linn Creek Museum, two pasture-farmed meat producers sell at the market. There are goodies to eat on site like The Hot Dog Maestro with Jacob, who plays piano at area piano lounges, selling hotdogs out of a cart on Saturdays, and sometimes he wears his performing coat of tails and bow tie. He makes incredible cherry lemonade too. He is a hit with the kids. Troy’s Flavored Pecans offers Missouri grown and harvested pecans that are coated and roasted in Stover, and a good supply of raw pecans for fall and winter cooking and baking. The Licorice Guy has five flavors of old fashioned licorice from their family recipe dating way back. Many vendors offer free samples; one can get full just strolling the aisles. Osage Beach Farmers Market is on Saturday mornings as well. Some of the vendors at the Camdenton Market have a second booth at Osage Beach such as The Licorice Guy. There is a beautiful harvest of fall produce, juicy red peaches, fat pears, and a bounty of bell peppers in every color. The fun comes in with a henna tattoo artist and a hot dog truck. Osage Beach Farmers Market is located in the Outlet Mall parking lot in Osage Beach every Saturday from 9am to 1pm. September 17-30, 2021
