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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 06-03 Aldrich Arena hosts Wednesday markets DISPATCH ' s,.ri ' . .,. , , , �- r a.: r f ,- SUANNE MOIL UNLOADING BEDDING plants at the Growers Market held 70 sellers offering their produce for sale each week.The May 27 at Aldrich Arena are Esther and Al Mundt,West St. market is located in the Aldrich Arena parking lot,1850 N. Paul.The Mundts and two other sellers made their products White Bear Ave.,Maplewood,Wednesdays from 9 a.m.to 2 available.The weekly Wednesday market starts slowly with p.m. p a few sellers,but by mid-summer,there is an average of 60- "✓Z//7-'3/ /g zi / QiS' R 7'Q/2 Aldrich Arena hosts Wednesday markets By SUANNE MOTL Mr. Mundt said, noting that it is only last year at the request of the Dakota and Staff Writer topped by the St. Paul city market on Ramsey County Extension Services.The Saturdays. extension services noted staffing shor- Slowly but surely the sellers and buyers He said it usually takes a while for it to [ages as a major reason for their decision. are getting together for the Growers pick up but by mid-summer there should Although no longer involved with the Market held each Wednesday in the be some 60-70 sellers at the Aldrich operational aspects, the extension ser- Aldrich Arena parking lot. market. He noted last year's high was vices do work with the growers about 80 sellers. association,and the services provide an The first few weeks of the market areMrs.Nazaire Bibeau,Lake Elmo,and informational booth at area markets to always tenative. Sellers don't want to her daughter were also at the market May answer gardening questions and t.. come if there are no buyers;and buyers 27.The Bibeaus also have attended the provide literature about growing. don't want to drive over to the market if Aldrich market over the past few years. The major change in. the Aldrich sellers are absent. Mr. Bibeau, who usually attends the market this year,Hein said,is the hours. market,decided working in the field last He said sellers and buyers expressed May 27 marked the actual beginning of week was more productive than sitting at interest in morning hours so the market is the market with three sellers setting up in the market. However, Mrs. Bibeau did now open Wednesdays from 9 a.m.to 2 the arena parking lot,1850 N.White Bear bring spinach,radishes and chive plants p.m. Ave.,Maplewood.Buyers trickled in over to market. He anticipates that by the end of July several hours. Offerings at the market change with the the sellers will want to extend the af- Glenn Anderson,Maplewood,noted that growing season.From the bedding plants ternoon hours. it takes one or more sellers to establish and early vegetables to pumpkins and Surprisingly, Hein said the market. that a market is going on.He said even if squash, the market always provides a which previously had been operating one seller sets up in the lot,buyers will large variety of produce. from 11:30 a.m.to 5 p.m.,did not attract know that the market is underway. Bill Hein, market manager, is en- many customers during the supper hours. Anderson was offering rhubarb,green couraging growers to take part in the The best business seemed to be conducted onions and bedding plants last week.He weekly Wednesday market. He said between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 pin., he starts his plants in the basement,moves sellers are suppose to be members of the noted. them to a little hothouse and then plants St. Paul Growers Association, which Hein said the growers association is them outside. organizes and operates the city and planning to keep the media informed various area markets,and will have to about what's available at the markets Al and Esther Mundt,West St.Paul, pay a fee of$3 for a 12-foot space during throughout the summer and fall.At this were also selling at the market last week, the markets in July through October. time of year he said lettuce, spinach, They have been coming to Aldrich Arena Hein says fees go toward expenses suchradishes, onions, bedding plants and for the past five years, as advertising and salaries.The growers hanging flower baskets are the items "This is the second best one(market)," association took over market operation most likely to be found at the market.