Opening weekend of Meeker farmers’ market is a success

MEEKER I Organizers were pleased with the opening day of the new farmers’ market.
And so were customers.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Shelly Hooper of Rangely, who drove over with Susie Rogers for Saturday’s first farmers’ market, which will run through September.
Another customer, Erika Miller, who lives north of Rifle, agreed.
“I wanted to come out and support it,” Miller said. “I think it’s a great addition.”
Organizers were happy with the opening day, too.
“I think it’s exceeding expectations,” said Dr. Albert Krueger, a member of Foods-Are-Us, a group promoting local food production and organizer of the farmers’ market, in sponsorship with the Rio Blanco County Farm Bureau. “The community is really turning out, especially considering this is the first day.”
“I’m as excited as can be,” said Jason Taylor, a Foods-Are-Us member. “It looks like a market, and people are buying things.”
An estimated 270 people turned out for the opening day of the market, with 100 showing up the first hour. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until items are sold out.
“It’s a nice turnout for the first time,” said Shannon Sheridan of Bar 7 Natural Beef, one of the four independent vendors at the farmer’s market, located on Fifth Street, between the courthouse and elementary school. “We’ll just get better.”
Organizers hope the farmers’ market turns into a weekly happening.
“I think it’s critical to stimulate the economy, and if we grow on that, that’s a good thing,” Krueger said.