Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Private Farmer’s Market Found In City
STAND WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGH SEPTEMBER
FARMINGTON — One vegetable stand in Farmington doesn’t have to leave town to set up at a Farmer’s Market each week. Bobby and Sue’s Veggie Stand, located on two acres at 180 Old Farmington Road, can be seen right along U. S. 62 or Main Street in the middle of Farmington.
The stand is owned by Bobby Campbell and Marilyn Shackelford and the couple has two acres along Main Street and another five acres off Arkansas 170. All produce is sold at the location on Old Farmington Road.
Shackelford said they’ve been selling fresh, homegrown produce at the vegetable stand for 11 years.
Campbell said his father always had a garden and he raised his own garden. He said the couple grew more than they could eat and set up a small stand under a tree along the highway to sell their extra vegetables. The city didn’t like that, he said, so they put up tents and sold under the tents.
“The city thought that was unsightly,” he said, so they decided to install a building and they now sell fresh produce from the building placed in the middle of their property.
Except for grapes, peaches and cherries, everything inside the store is grown either on site or at the Highway 170 garden. Fresh vegetables include tomatoes, zucchini, okra, potatoes, eggplants, green beans, cabbage and onions. Fruit includes watermelons and cantaloupes.
The veggie stand is open 9 a. m. to 6 p. m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and will continue to be open through September. Their season usually runs from May to September, depending on the weather and the growing season for the year.
Shackelford’s favorite part of the stand is meeting people and visiting with customers. Customers come from all over, including West Fork, Oklahoma, Alma and Bella Vista. A couple from Little Rock stopped by over the weekend while on their way to the Clothesline Fair.
Campbell’s favorite part is working in the garden.
“He’s not happy unless his hands are in the dirt,” Shackelford laughed.
“I like to grow stuff but when it’s 95 outside, it takes most of the fun out of it,” Campbell added.
When the stand closes for the season, Shackelford said she misses her customers.
During the off season, they start preparing for next year. Shackelford said they grow plants in their greenhouse and prepare the soil. They also take time off and enjoy going to Hawaii.