Daily Nebraskan

Issue date: 6/23/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Mandy Kottas Greg and Kathy Naber set up their stand at the Haymarket Farmers' Market on Saturday. Due to a high demand for strawberries, many popular items were lacking that morning. [Click to enlarge]

The Haymarket Farmers' Market is as much a part of Lincoln's culture as Jazz in June or Husker football, and it grows in size and attendance each year.

Every Saturday from May 3 to Oct. 11, about 200 vendors gather in the streets of Lincoln's historic Haymarket to sell their naturally grown goods.

"It's a great opportunity to meet our customers," said Krista Dittman, a vendor for 10 years.

The vendors are the people who make the Haymarket Farmers' Market the successful event it continues to be. They work hard all week to prepare themselves for the annual happening, and then count on the eagerness of the people of Lincoln to support their operations.

"All of our produce is grown in a greenhouse back on our farm in Iowa," said Vicki Sjulin, a vendor who offers good with the "Swedish Touch." "We get everything ready all day Friday and then leave at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday to get here on time."

Vendors come from near and far to promote their produce at the Haymarket Farmers' Market. Sjulin's "Swedish Touch" is from rural Iowa near Nebraska City. There are farms such as Walnut Creek Gardens from Crete, Tomato Acres from Elm Creek, Bluestem Herb Farm from Beatrice and Shadowbrook Farms from right here in Lincoln.

There are also small family farms from as far away as Beaver Crossing and Cedar Rapids.

One of the larger operations is Naber's Produce Farm from York, Nebraska.

"We have about 25 acres of vegetable production," said Greg Naber, a proprietor of Naber's Produce Farm. "In the summertime this is our primary operation."

Preparing himself for the Haymarket Farmer's Market is a continuous process. Naber's farm is a constant hub of agricultural activity. Like most of the market's vendors, his family preps the produce all week long, loads the trailer on Friday and leaves home at 5 a.m. Saturday to make it to the market on time.

The variety of goods available at the Haymarket Farmers' Market is a testament to the work and skill of the various vendors.

"It's a continuous process," Dittman said. "The goods change with the seasons and we have to continue to ensure the quality of the produce and things like blackberries and other things that come later on."

CASEYWELSCH@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

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