Provo's Farmers Market offers tent-sharing program

PROVO — When Provo's Farmers Market opened its season at Pioneer Park on Saturday, it invited home gardeners to sell their produce in a new tent-share program.

Any home gardener residing in Utah County with a garden of a quarter acre or less may share a booth with other small-scale growers, said farmers market coordinator Raquel Smith-Callis. The new policy mixes hobbyists with large-scale family farms to sell their produce at the weekly market.

"Small-scale growers are encouraged to bring heirlooms and special varieties of fruits and vegetables," Smith-Callis said.

Hobby gardeners pay $7 a day to participate in the tent-share program, with canopies provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Vendors are advised to bring crops in baskets, coolers or boxes and should provide labels identifying the variety and price.

Items for sale at the market include fresh eggs, seasonal local and regional produce, goat cheese, yogurt, seedlings and honey. The market also includes lunch options, live music, homemade soaps and salves.

The seasonal farmers market is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday until October at the corner of 100 South and 500 West.

For more information, call 801-427-5535 or visit www.provosfarmersmarket.com.

— Rodger L. Hardy