Much-Awaited Rosemount Farmers Market Opens a Week Late

In stark contrast to last week’s precarious weather conditions, sunny skies greeted an eager crowd of St. Paul Farmers Market customers Tuesday in Rosemount. 

They were excited to be able to purchase their favorite fresh goods at the popular event’s opening day, which ended early last week due to tornado warnings in the area.

The growers and vendors had agreed that being sent home was the safe and smart thing to do: “When you see clouds swirling around overhead, and you’re sitting under a canopy, that’s not a good feeling,” said Shari Haselmann, Aspen Ridge Honey market manager.

“I felt so bad that they had to go home,” said Sonja Lusch of Rosemount, who tried to visit the market last week. Lusch, a customer almost every year, said she'd like to come more often, adding that she mostly enjoys “just being able to get fresh veggies and support the farmers.”

It’s a great example for her 3-year-old daughter, who – carrying a reusable bag – also looked forward to visiting the market: “I don’t know if she remembers coming out last year, but [now] she likes to hold the vegetable bags,” Lusch said.  Even at her age, “she loves all the vegetables.”

The Rosemount Farmers Market showcased a wide variety of produce, including pea pods, rhubarb, asparagus, kohlrabi, several types of potatoes, red and white onions, Swiss chard, broccoli and lettuce.

Visitors also found special vegetables such as daikon radishes, Chinese broccoli and bok choy. Cilantro, mint, dill, basil and parsley were among the garden-fresh selection of herbs whose aromas mingled with that of the strawberries.

Carl Wong, in his first year selling at the farmers market, was on hand to give out samples of salad topped with his honey candy walnuts ($3 per container), and his “Homemade Luau” sweet and spicy sauce ($5 per jar). The versatile, flavorful sauce is “good for stir frying … salad dressing … and it’s especially good on salmon,” he said.

Arlene Hill (“the beekeeper’s wife”) from Aspen Ridge Honey Farm offered visitors free samples of cinnamon creamed honey. In its fourth year at the farmers market, Aspen Ridge Honey displayed an assortment of special products, from flavored honey sticks (priced at 25 cents each, or five for a dollar) to candles made from their hardworking bees’ wax – as well as different varieties of raw honey.  

Great Harvest Bread Co., with homemade artisan breads and sweet treats, made the farmers market selection even greater, as did Lorence’s Berry Farm, with a variety of berry syrups and plenty of strawberries.  

Be sure to check out fresh veggies, fruit, flowers and much more in the Rosemount Community Center parking lot, from 2 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday through Sept. 20.