On Saturday ( Aug. 2) we opened the North Prairie Farmers' Market in Minot in a new location downtown. The day went very well as customers were steady throughout the day. Unfortunately, there were only four vendors to begin the market season.

There may be a couple of reasons for this. It's been an interesting growing season. Many of the vendors we worked with last year don't have produce. June was damp and cool and really nothing grew during a critical time. 

Ilene and I have some wonderful looking garlic, but then that was planted in October and by June the critical phase in garlic production had passed. We've also got some nice potatoes and other items.

But others don't. We're going to have a market again this next Saturday and hopefully more vendors will join us becuase the customers are certainly there and they are certainly wanting a second farmers' market in Minot. That was very clear to us on Saturday. 

Financially, it was one of the better days we've had since opening markets in 2005. Minot has been good to us and continues to surprise us with excellent sales. 

We think there are a couple of reasons for this. First, we are providing certified organic produce to the consumers, something which is new in Minot, but sought after. I've been told by customers they don't want to get organic produce in the grocery stores for fear it may have come from China and nobody really knows what China's organic standards are.

Secondly, locally grown can't be beat. All of the vendors have said their customers have told them that. We're growing the produce and the customers see us at the market and they know who we are, thus it is quality and local.

True, we need more vendors at the downtown market, but we've got a good start to another successful farmers' market season in northwestern North Dakota.