Locally grown, fresh vegetables and berries are now just a short drive away for Meridian residents with the kick off of the town's first Saturday farmers market of the season.
Thirteen booths were set up at the Meridian City Hall plaza Saturday morning.
One of the main requirements to be a vendor at this market, besides the fact products must be homegrown or handmade, is that you're of school age. That's right, the youngest generation has been invited to be part of the inaugural Youth Farmers Market downtown.
The youth vendors already seem to be pleasantly surprised with people's reaction.
For Mason Rasmussen, the kale went fast.
"We didn't think we'd sell that much [kale] so we just brought two flats in," Rasmussen said. "That sold out quickly."
The 11-year-old and his siblings are growing kale, raspberries and strawberries to sell at the market.
All profits will go toward their college careers.
"It also gives our youth the opportunity to develop life-long skills like how to profit from their hobby, how to better understand healthy eating," said Mayor Tammy de Weerd, City of Meridian.
Besides the booths, which there is still time to put an application in, youth bands perform and the bookmobile is standing by.
On the flip side, it's also something the entire family can enjoy and even pick up some new, yummy recipes with nutritional value.
"They can just keep it in the pot or plant it in the ground and cut off leaves," Rasmussen said. "Every morning before school, or whatever, my mom would make a smoothie with the kale."
The Saturday market hours are from 9 a.m. to noon at the Meridian City Hall Plaza through Sept. 24.
For more information on how to become a youth vendor, visit http://www.meridiancity.org/youthfarmersmarket/.
