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FRUITS, FUN AND FLAVORED HONEY: Northeast Farmers Market Already a Success on First Day of First Full

Posted on: Friday, 12 May 2006, 06:08 CDT

By Joy L. Woodson, The State, Columbia, S.C.

May 12--Sitting on a black metal bench in the Lake Carolina subdivision, 2-year-old Landon Mullis didn't say much.

He grabbed boiled peanuts out of a plastic bag, peeled the mushy nuts out and popped them into his mouth. "Hmmp" was all he said for a time.

Perhaps he was reflecting, said his grandfather, Al Mullis, who went with his wife, Jan, to the Northeast Farmers Market on Thursday.

"We're introducing our grandson to boiled peanuts," he said. "He's never had them ... and he's eating them right up."

Having visited the farmers market last year, the Mullises returned this year for the opening because they love the fresh vegetables.

After two hours, 643 people had already walked through, said Alan Lattanzi, who manages the market. This is the first full season for the event, which will run until Nov. 16. Last year, the market operated for less than two months before the growing season was over.

Thursday, about 12 vendors who spread out under leafy shade trees, sold fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade honey, beeswax candles, plants and baked goods.

Northeast Richland resident Shannon McManus, paused to look at the flavored honey at one table as he walked through the market.

"That's funny," he said. "I've never even heard of flavored honey. When did this come about? Where have I been?"

This was Kalayna Price's first visit to the farmers market. The 24-year-old went with her family. She bought several sweet potatoes for a dollar from David Leix, a local grower.

Looking around, Price admired the selection but said the event was missing art work, such as at a Charleston farmers market she attended.

"That's the only thing that's really lacking," she said. "I guess that doesn't work for the farmers, but I've always liked it."

Leix, 78, is a return vendor, who learned the trade at age 12 from working on his father's farm. After grabbing a flat of okra from his truck, he explained he doesn't use chemical fertilizer. He uses turkey manure.

"I don't poison anything," he said. "It gets in your system."

For beekeeper Tommy Thompson, it was nice to be outside and see new and old shoppers. Bearing a shirt that read "Made in America," he said the bees are his business partners.

He provides corn syrup for food, shelter and medication. The bees -- thousands of them -- give him honey.

"It's really a good relationship."

Reach Woodson at (803) 315-6863.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The State, Columbia, S.C.

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Singapore:R14,

Source: The State (Columbia, S.C.)

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