Farmers markets turning year-round in parts of south metro

Minnesotans love to shop local for food, and these days it's becoming easier to do so, even when the state is snow-covered and frozen.

Farmers markets are extending their seasons through the winter months. In the past two years, two Dakota County communities have added winter markets.

Eagan's Winter Market Fest, housed in the city's Community Center, runs every other Saturday from November until March (the next is Dec. 20). It is starting its second season.

This is the first year the St. Paul Farmers' Market has had a holiday market on Thursdays in Apple Valley. The last session is Dec. 18.

"We had a lot of public requests to add an indoor market after the outdoor market," said Kerry Phillips, recreation supervisor and Market Fest coordinator for the city of Eagan.

The summer Market Fest draws about 3,000 people weekly, said Phillips. Officials decided to expand after seeing the success of other indoor markets in the Twin Cities, such as one in Bloomington.

"It's definitely been growing within the last couple years," said Bloomington recreation supervisor Jill Murphy of that city's winter farmers market, which runs in November and December. "I think people are just getting familiar with it."

Jesse Davis, of the Minnesota Farmers Market Association, credited "the cottage foods bill and the pickle bill." Legislation allows limited sales of certain home-canned and home-processed foods, such as baked goods, at farmers markets, if vendors make less than $5,000 annually.

People who spend winter months baking organic dog treats or strudels or making lefse or hot sauce can now find a good market in the wintertime.

"A lot of people don't think of fresh produce in the winter," Phillips said. However, like other winter markets, in Eagan there's produce such as potatoes, carrots, rutabaga, par­snips, cabbage, winter squash, onions, beets and turnips all season.

The Eagan Winter Market draws fewer people than the one in the summer, said Phillips, about 350 to 400 customers per week.

Still, some producers find it worth it.

Linda Filonowich, of Eagan, who was buying bags of apples from his stand, said she was one of those loyal customers.

"I just like local. That's why you do farmers markets. It's hard work, and I appreciate the dedication."

Here's a little taste of what the markets have to offer:

Collettie's by Merci Merci Confections: "I'm a Russian who bakes Swedish cookies, and they're named after a French dog," said Elle Jenkins, of Eagan, who just launched a business selling Colletie's cookies last month.

The name derives from Collette, a certified therapy dog Jenkins brings to a juvenile detention center.

Half of the profits from the cookies will go to initiatives for detention center youth, Jenkins said.

The recipe came from her husband's grandmother, a Swedish immigrant who came to the United States in the late 1800s.

"We always say she got a second chance," Jenkins said, "so these cookies can be used to give someone else a second chance."

Bee Brews: Brandee Hanson, of Crystal, said the main inspiration for her farmers market product was her Sodastream, the now ubiquitous device that helps people make sparkling water in their own home.

Hanson, who started working on recipes this past January, developed all-natural flavorings to sweeten the bubbly water.

"Honey was a great ingredient," she said.

Her most popular flavor, she said, is ginger-lime. The Lemon Honey has a hint of rosemary and the Orange Chai Spice, the sweetest, tastes a bit like root beer.

Lady A's Cupcakes: Angie Lederle, of Jordan, said that after baking for her sister's wedding, she got hooked on making sweets for crowds.

"I kind of put it on hold and thought it was a fad," she said. However, after a while she took it up again and started selling at farmers markets. This month Lederle is opening a storefront in Belle Plaine.

She makes homemade cupcakes — Snickers, chocolate with buttercream, caramel apple and many more — and always has a gluten-free option.

Her husband, Jeremy Lederle, said they want to try out Shaker lemon and orange pies.

Sales at winter markets are modest, he added, "but it's gotten better. It's not going to be the same [business] we saw outside, but it's worth our time."

Hannah and Hobbes: Chrissy Wheeler, of Apple Valley, offers scented soaps, bath fizzies, lotion bars and other products. Wheeler said she started making soap a few years ago, as favors for guests at her wedding.

"Sunshine," an orange- and yuzu-scented soap, is her most popular fragrance. A close second is lemon grass and spearmint.

During the holiday season, she sells candy cane cupcake soaps and a bar soap called "Santa's Pipe," with red and smoke-colored swirls with a scent she modeled after cherry pipe tobacco.

Others vendors: Vendors at the Eagan market also sell items like pierogies, pork products, breads, tea, organic dog treats, barbecue sauce, smoked salmon, lefse, spice rubs, and sweet and savory strudel.

They periodically have olive oil, peanut butter, hot sauce, chocolates, evergreen wreaths, pickled vegetables, salsa, peanut butter, German sausage, mustard and sauerkraut.

Winter Market Fest customers who buy a selection of products as gifts can arrange the items in their choice of a free gift basket.

This is the first year for a holiday market in Apple Valley, put on by St. Paul's farmers market.

The market offerings are similar to those in Eagan: baked goods, jams and jellies, pickled items, honey, salsa, strudel and more.