The first farmers market of the spring semester took place on the University of Missouri campus Thursday.
Local farmers from across mid-Missouri sold products ranging from breads and meats to coffee and jams.
Jeannie Nobis is a baker for Grandma Barb’s Pies and Produce and was one of the vendors at the market.
“The students love the market,” she said. “They don’t get the chance to have a lot of homemade food, so they all seem to appreciate it.”
Concerns were raised amongst the farming community earlier this year due to unseasonably warm temperatures. A warm and dry February was followed by a colder March, which could have damaged some crops and produce.
“We personally weren’t affected by the weather,” Nobis said. “I have heard, though, that some of the peach trees won’t have any fruit this year because they bloomed early and then it frosted.”
Mark Mahnken is a beef farmer from Salisbury, Missouri.
“Farmers are always worriers,” he said. “If you ask a farmer how he is, he’ll tell you what he’s worried about. I don’t think there have been any serious effects because we’ve been getting the rains now, and it’s starting to warm up. It looks like we’re getting some good moisture, and the grass is coming on really well.”
There will be three more markets on campus this semester, on April 13, April 20, and May 4. They take place at Lowry Mall.
“MU is a great market for us,” Mahnken said. “The students love it.”