MACOMB FARMER’S MARKET
Homefresh Products
Aaron Ferguson and his wife Lisa hail from Carthage, Illinois and are new vendors at the Macomb Summer Farmer's Market (sort of).
Aaron actually is returning to Macomb Farmer's Market after a long absence-he started selling strawberries at age 15 as an FFA project some 31 years ago at Macomb Farmer's Market, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the 50th Anniversary celebration activities just recently.
The Freguson's are planning on a full season of selling at Macomb both on Thursday and Saturday markets, and also plan on setting up at the Winter Market.
Products the Fergusons plan on bringing to market include: peas, strawberries, herbs, onions, potatoes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, melons, eggplants, turnips and more.
The Fergusons are in the produce business year round as they have green houses and a second business-Fresh Roots Market, which they purchased from the Brian Kinman family.
Fresh Roots Market is a delivery-based business where one can 'subscribe' to a choice of fresh produce and have it delivered.
The Community News Brief will run a second story just on Fresh Roots Market and how to be a subscriber.
Other venues the Fergusons set up booths at include LaHarpe, Hamilton, Carthage, Keokuk, and in the past they have been at Rushville and Monmouth. Macomb will be one of their main venues in the future. Aaron commented that the last Farmer's Market in Macomb (June 7) was the best in sales they have ever had in one day at a market.
Homefresh Products does not profess to be 'organic' because of the stringent guidelines that entails. But Aaron states their products are very close.
Aaron has two other jobs-he is a driver for Amish work crews and owns some rental properties.
It is through his connections to the Amish that he and Lisa have learned about 'Amish remedies', for example on how to keep insects from your plants.
Aaron is also newly active in the Macomb Food Co-op, which also will be discussed in a separate article.
As if all of this produce growing was not time consuming enough, Aaron finds time to lead the Fandon Christian Church.
What Lisa and Aaron like about the Macomb Farmer's Market is that it is different form a social aspect. Whereas at most markets, shoppers buy their produce and run. In Macomb, they find people are curious-they want to ask questions, how something was grown, how best to cook it, etc.
They contribute that to a University atmosphere, but have also noticed that young 20-somethings are very interested in what they eat and how to eat healthy.
The Fergusons would love to become your fresh produce source. They are planning on expanding their greenhouses in number and trying anything and everything they can do to grow better produce for the consumer.
To contact Homefresh Products, you can call 217440-7101, email homefreshproducts@ gmail.com or by Facebook at Homefresh Products or Fresh Roots Market.
Watch for an upcoming article on the Ferguson's new business, Fresh Roots Market and the Macomb Food Co-op in the future.
The Macomb Farmers Market meets Thursdays & Saturdays from 8 am to Noon in Chandler Park. Shop for fresh locally grown produce, plants, & flowers; local farm-raised eggs & honey; homemade baked goods & flavored popcorn; personal care products & hand-crafted goods made by local artisans; and on Saturdays only, packaged pasture-raised meat, readyto- eat breakfast & lunch options (including gourmet grilled cheese), on-site knife sharpening, children's activities, & more! SNAP & LINK Match accepted by eligible vendors.
