Carmel Farmers Summer Market: Come Here, Grow Here
April 2022
The Carmel Farmers Markets (CFM) volunteer committee is pleased to announce opening day at the Carmel Farmers Summer Market to be held at Carter Green in Carmel, Indiana, on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The Summer Market will be open every Saturday from May 7 through Sept. 24, 2022—8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Boasting more than 70 vendors, many of which are longtime vendors with the market, the CFM committee welcomes a few new faces and products to this year’s lineup as well as some new “mini sponsorship” opportunities for local restaurants.
Calling All Local Chefs!
CFM President Ron Carter has been reaching out to the community’s restaurants with a new mini sponsorship program that is designed to increase brand awareness for not only the market and the restaurants but also for the market’s vendors and their fresh products as well.
“We’re instituting a new mini sponsorship for local restaurants,” Carter said. “We know that we have chefs from local restaurants coming to the market, so we’re going to encourage those chefs to be more visible at market, thus making their restaurants more visible and helping their restaurants be perceived as, and in actuality be, part of the local food chain and letting consumers know that our market provides the quality products that local gourmet chefs utilize.”
For participating restaurants, Carter shared they will have a designated market wagon with their name, logo, etc., that the chefs can tote around while shopping at the market. If time permits, the chefs will be invited to be interviewed at the market over the PA system and asked what they bought and how they will incorporate the ingredients into their dishes.
Carter added, “We think the mini sponsorships will lift our brand, the brands of the vendors and certainly the brands of the restaurants.”
Look for “Chef Spotlights” throughout the market season!
From Seedling to Full Bloom
CFM Vice President Deborah Schmitz spoke about how the market serves as an incubator for small and start-up vendors. Many vendors have “outgrown” the market once they’ve gone national or have moved up the supply chain and into large fulfillment contracts.
“One example is James Long with ‘LIVE Project,’” Schmitz said. “James produces a health drink line and has been approached by Target for distribution. Another example is the Baird family that owns/operates Groomsville Popcorn. I can still remember Jacob—a mild-mannered gentleman—contacting us about selling his popcorn at our market. This past winter, he had four booths at the Carmel Christkindlmarkt! They sold their pizza, chocolate, German candies and their popcorn and nuts. They have recently opened a restaurant/storefront in Tipton, Indiana, and Jacob’s donuts are to die for!”
Carter and Schmitz are eager to see how one of their new vendors, American Dream Nut Butters, does at the market this year. American Dream Nut Butters creates and sells an assortment of low-carb, high-protein, low-sugar nut butters. It is a family-owned and -operated business that employs about 40 family members!
Be sure to join us on opening day for all of the traditional fanfare, including a flyover provided by Indy Biplanes, and remember… “Get Fresh On Saturdays!”
For more information on CFM vendors, events and entertainment, visit carmelfarmersmarket.com.
CFM 2022 VENDORS
3 IN 1 RESTAURANT: Pupusas, tamales and sides
AAHAA CHAI: Authentic chai teas
ALCOMY LLC: Mixology
AMERICAN DREAM NUT BUTTERS: Gourmet nut butters
AREPAS: Venezuelan arepas
ARTISANO’S OILS & SPICES: Oils and spices
ASH & ELM CIDER COMPANY: Craft cider
BALANCED HARVEST FARM: Flowers
BECKER FARMS: Variety of meat and produce
BLUE YONDER ORGANIC FARM: Organic meats and produce
BOBBIE-Q: Homemade noodles, BBQ sauce, fudge and cookies
BRICKHOUSE VINAIGRETTES: All-natural, clean-label, gluten-free, dairy-free vinaigrettes
CAFÉ BABY: Baby food and delivery
CHEF KARYN: Catering
CIRCLE CITY SWEETS: Baked goods
DOUD ORCHARDS: Produce
EAGLE CREEK APIARY: Local raw honey and natural spa products
EAT SURREAL: Whole food spreads
FARMING ENGINEERS: Organic produce
FRESCO SPICE BLENDS: Spice blends and rubs
GENERATIONS PIE COMPANY: Pies, pastries and bread
GOMEZ BBQ: Craft barbecue
GREEN GROWERS: Organic produce, herbs and elderberry syrup
GROOMSVILLE POPCORN: Popcorn
GUACAMOLE & MORE: Guacamole, salsas and more!
GUISEPPE’S ITALIAN MARKET: Italian foods
HAPPY EVERYTHING: Prepared food
HOOSIER CULINARY SHARPENING: Knife sharpening
HOOSIER WAGYU: Full blood Wagyu beef and Wagyu beef crosses
HUNTER’S HONEY FARM: Honey and apiary products
IDLEWINE BISON: Local bison
INDIE COFFEE ROASTERS: Coffee roasts and brews
JP PARKER FLOWERS: Flowers
JASON MICHAEL THOMAS: Urban awareness gardens
JOHNNIE RABER FARM: Produce
KORA’S KITCHEN: Gourmet, handmade pet treats
KRENOLIES DONUTS: Donuts
LIVE PROJECT: Juices and specialty drinks
LONESOME DUCK FARM: Garden produce, fresh lavender and lavender products, zinnias and red sunflowers
MA CREPERIE: Sweet and savory crepes
MALLOW RUN WINERY: Wine and hard ciders
MAPLEWOOD FARMS LLC: Maple products
MCCLURE’S ORCHARD: Apples, cider and baked goods
MISSION COFFEE: Arabic coffee
MUNCIE MUSHROOMS: Mushrooms
MY DAD’S SWEET CORN: Sweet corn
MY SUGAR PIE: Pies
NADING FARM: Local meats, produce and flowers
NO LABEL AT THE TABLE: Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan baked goods
NORMAN MULLET FARM: Fresh produce and eggs
OLD MAJOR: All-natural meat products
OLDE TYME POPPIN KORN: Kettle corn
PHELPS FAMILY FARM: Pasture-raised and free-range pork, beef and eggs
PIG’S TALE CHARCUTERIE: Charcuterie crafted by hand in Indiana
POTS & PANS PIE COMPANY: Sweet and savory pies
PURE EATING WAY: Whole-food, plant-based meals
RISIN CREEK CREAMERY: Clean dairy products
ROSIE’S RIBLETS: BBQ and catering
SECOND ACT SWEETS: Cookies, muffins, scones and more!
SKILLINGTON FARMS: Breakfast foods, smoothies and more!
SOUPREMACY: Soups, salads and sandwiches
SPICEKICK MEAL SPICE KITS: Dinner spice packets
ST. ATHANASIUS: Baked goods
SURREAL FARMS: Blackberries
TULIP TREE CREAMERY: Dairy products
URBAN VINES: Wine
VAN ANTWERP FARM: Produce
VIETNAMESE EGGROLL BAR: Traditional Vietnamese cuisine
WALKING WAFFLE COMPANY: Warm Liege waffles
XCHOCOL’ART: Handmade chocolates
Writer:
Janelle Morrison
Photography:
Courtesy of CFM and Jennifer Hershberger