Summertime Treat

At a new location and with a new sponsor, the Downtown Colfax Farmer’s Market is back for 2021. Now at Mineral Springs Park, the City of Colfax is also sponsoring the community favorite which is held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday.

“We are excited to have a Farmer’s Market this year in Colfax,” organizer Nikki Stravers said. “We are hopeful holding our market this year on the east end of Mineral Springs Park will allow the public and cars driving by to see us.”

After kicking off at the end of May, the market has had a steady stream of people visiting the variety of vendors set up to sell. While fruits and vegetables are still finishing their growing season, there is still many great foods and goods available to those stopping by.

“We’ve been making cotton candy for about three months now,” Azra Beyer of The Sugar Rush Factory said. “There is nobody here local who really does it.”

Beyer, who previously lived in Colfax, brought her business to the Colfax for the first time this year. With flavors of cotton candy ranging from cherry and peach to jasmine and pina colada, the sweet treat is an instant favorite at the market.

“My favorite thing is when an older person comes up to me and says I haven’t had cotton candy for 40 years,” Beyer said. “It makes them feel like a kid.”

Also new to the farmer’s market is the woodworking business of Morgan Mason. After starting some projects during 2020, the craftsman decided to bring it to the public and has, so far, been successful.

“We have spoons, some trays. Next week I am hoping to bring in some more kitchen items, egg holders, knife blocks, cheese boards, bowls,” Mason said. “Less than a year ago I got a dremel tool and started carving and I thought it was cool. Then, I wanted to get more into hand carving. The more that I learned, the more stuff I could do and then I thought I could make things for people.”

Another newcomer to the market is Keely Birkenholtz with Barn Treasures. After selling at vendor and craft shows, she decided to expand to the farmer’s market scene.

“I saw the market on the Facebook page for Colfax Main Street,” Birkenholtz said. “We’re also going to end up selling fruits and vegetables, mainly vegetables and eggs, but we are waiting for our garden to take off.”

With a couple of weeks in, Stravers hopes to continue bringing in new and different vendors to the market. With a goal of possibly having prepared food to entice people downtown to have a bite, take a look around and do some shopping, she is excited for what is to come.

“We have a pretty good turnout,” Stravers said. “It’s a good market, hopefully more people will keep coming out.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com