Centennial Lakes Farmers Market Opening June 16

"For the most part, the citizens of Edina kept calling and asking about the possibility of a farmers market in the city," said Tom Shirley, manager, as it kicked off in 2010.

Now, the embarks on its second year. It will run from 3-7 p.m. on Thursdays from June 16 - September 29 with 35 vendors, which is 10 more than in its inaugural season. A member of the Minnesota Farmers Market Association (MFMA), the city's only market saw as many as 2,000 guests a day in 2010, according to Shirley, and is self-supporting, financially.

The 2011 participating vendors will bring produce, bread, pasta, granola, produce, tea, pizzas, honey and more to the Lakes. There will be a few Edina-based purveyors along with a variety of folks from the greater Twin Cities area, including Healthy Greens, Bee Happy Honey, Gracie and Friends, Kayak Kitchens and Groveland Confections, to name a few.

Carrie Marshall, from Marshalls's Farm Market in nearby Eden Prairie, got involved in the Centennial Lakes venue last year when their farm stand was beset with local road construction and closures.

"We'll keep going back. Going to Edina I have met so many new people," Marshall said. Their most popular products are onions—which should be ready by opening day—tomatoes and little cucumbers.

Accoring to Shirley, one of the standout qualities of the Centennial Lakes market is its afternoon start time. That means much of the produce is picked that morning for sale the very same day, which ensures that the items are as fresh as they can be. At morning venues, the vegetables and fruits are generally picked the day before the event.

Edina's Community Health Administrator Sherry Engelman explained that part of a Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant helped to create the farmers market, by supporting an effort to change the city's policy so that it could be located at Centennial Lakes Park.

Part of the impetus from a public health standpoint was the belief that the market would "be a good thing for people because it would provide access to fresh fruits and vegetables," according to Engelman. 

And the response that she's heard from Edina residents about the market?

"They want more hours and more days," said Engelman.

The SHIP grant is shared by Bloomington, Richfield and Edina, and the cities likewise share information between the South suburbs' markets. Keri Lahl, the Bloomington Farmers Market Coordinator helped Shirley when he was creating Edina's site and she loves its location. 

"When you live in Bloomington and Edina, it can be hard to find a sense of community," Lahl said. "I've met so many people I would not have met if I had not been at the farmers market."

Paul Hugunin from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) echoed Lahl's sentiments about the metro area.

"A farmers market can build unity by providing a gathering spot," Hugunin added.

The MDA gives promotion and advice to coordinators like Shirley, in addition to maintaining a directory of all farmers markets in the state. They've seen clear growth in the numbers of markets in areas like Edina, where a city or civic organization makes a special effort to bring traffic to a street or park.

"There's a real value in connecting suburbanites with farmers," Hugunin said. "There are fewer farmers statewide and even moreso within the metro."

As for the Centennial Lakes Farmers Market, whether you attend to find community, healthy fresh foods or simply to eat a Bruno's Chicago hot dog or wood-fired pizza, Shirley looks forward to greeting you.

"It's very well received and it's nice to see the same people coming every single week and doing their shopping and enjoying the ready-made foods," he said in a soft-spoken way.