The Springfield Farmers Market at Farmers Park is blooming as its busiest season is fast approaching. Although summer brings an increase The Farmers Market has continued to thrive as a place for customers to seek wholesome, locally sourced goods. It remains a cornerstone of sustainability and community within the area.
Mike Campbell, a vendor at Farmers Park, owns Campbell’s Farm in Springfield and has experienced this community since childhood.
“I began selling product at the farmers market in the mid ’90’s,” Campbell said. “The reason I started it was because I had grown up picking for local produce farmers around where I lived. I liked the lifestyle it offered. Selling product direct is all about what I prefer. Part of my entire objective is a return more to a close-knit community; purchasing local, getting to know your neighbors, doing life together as a community.”
He’s not the only vendor that feels this way. Antonina Dunkin runs a stall at Farmers Park called Olga’s Bee Cream, a small business that she runs with her mother.
“Everyone is very supportive and kind; vendors buy from each other and it’s not competitive,” Dunkin said. “It’s definitely the most personal you can get with people. People tend to be a lot more honest, and there’s just kind of that old-school vibe to talking with people versus online where everything is instant and on-demand. It’s very important emotionally for you.”
Local farm stands help combat the interpersonal nature of online buying and selling.
“In this day and age of social media, the true social aspect of community is becoming lost to future generations,” Campbell said. “Not that electronic connection with others is all that bad, but it does give a false sense of community if it is the only means of connecting with others. I know when I am selling at [the] market, I see customers who interact with each
other on an ongoing basis.”
As a contrast to the seemingly heavy online lives lived by many teens, sophomore Lila Tudman visits the Farmers Park and other local markets with her mother on a monthly basis.
“I like the food [options] that they have there,” Tudman said. “I think that’s an amazing environment. They also have products like jewelry or flags and other things. It’s a more open opportunity for people to be like, ‘Well, this isn’t just food.’ There’s actually stuff that we can take home with us and have.”
The farmer’s market can be a beneficial gathering for anyone, but it can be especially beneficial for younger audiences.
“With a lot of younger people growing up, there’s a lot of curiosity,” Dunkin said. “Just to find things and see how the world works, and I think the farmers market is an area like that to explore that’s apart from things like major corporations.”
Campbell shares this sentiment and puts an emphasis on the importance of communities like these on newer generations.
“I would suggest that young folks seek to find avenues to interact in ways and through means that create actual interaction,” Campbell said.
Tudman believes that anyone can go and experience interactions like these and leave with new memories and knowledge.
“You really should take that experience and take that chance of going with friends because it’s really fun,” Tudman said. “Even if there’s not stuff that you’re going to buy, it’s a great experience to interact with people and look at the really cool [products] they have. You’ll meet so many amazing people and have that experience to be able to look back on.”
