Locals share their passion and hard work with communities during National Farmers Market Week
SW Okla. (KSWO) – According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are over 1,000 farms in Comanche County, totaling nearly half a million acres of land.
Farmers markets provide a designated place for vendors to sell their homemade goods and network with their community.
Craig Cunningham of Cunning Cultivations says it allows him to share his passion with others.
“This is one of the things I’ve discovered I’m really good at,” he said. “You know, for a long time I felt like I couldn’t figure out what I was supposed to be doing in my life, and then I found this and I thought, ‘Yeah, this is it. This is something I need to share.’ Something I’m good enough at to share with everybody.”
Aside from his passion, he says one of the benefits of shopping at farmers markets is knowing where the produce comes from.
“It all comes from the soil, I don’t really do much except move the soil and gather the materials I need and it’s all done by hand,” Cunningham explained. “I touch everything that goes into the garden.”
Sonja Eubanks, manager of the Think Ability Garden Club and Duncan Farmers Market, shares this view with Cunningham.
“Products that don’t have pesticides in them and aren’t trucked for miles and sitting in a warehouse somewhere,” Eubanks explained. “You can just come here and get it directly from the farmer.”
While most farmers markets are held once a week, the Garden Club in Duncan offers goods from local farmers six days a week. Not only do they sell their own homegrown produce, but they also provide locals with a place to sell their goods year-round, away from the heat.
“They work outside all day. It’s really nice to come in and bring your stuff inside where the heat doesn’t wilt the produce,” she said.
Aside from the product, farmers like Cunningham say it’s a great way to network.
“There are days where I’m here for three or four days in a row and I don’t leave the house. It’s just like I’m on the road, on the road, and I just need to talk to somebody, you know, get it all out,” Cunningham said.
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