Ozarkansas’ Newest Farmers Market: Mill Street Market
This spring, Northwest Arkansas welcomes a new farmers market to its slate of locally grown food options. Mill Street Market opens Saturday, April 30, in Springdale.
Springdale residents Tiffany and James Selvey made the decision in July 2015 to pursue opening the market. Tiffany is a master gardener, and the Selveys already offer fresh produce from Songbird Gardens, their urban garden in Springdale. After selling their own produce, seeing a growing interest in revitalizing downtown Springdale, and considering their personal commitments to fresh, local food and those who grow it, the Selveys decided a downtown destination market was exactly what the area needed.
“There really isn’t a weekly place for the community of Springdale to gather,” Tiffany says. “This offers a place to gather and meet our friends, an opportunity to spend Saturday mornings outside, and the convenience of getting your groceries and gift items.”
The Selveys have a desire to see fresh food available to the entire, diverse community that is Springdale. They are intentionally reaching out to various populations in an effort to draw the community together. Mill Street Market will work with Feed Communities (a nonprofit hunger-relief organization in Fayetteville and the publisher of Edible Ozarkansas) to reach the large Marshallese population.
“I think it’s important for our kids and our community to have accessible, healthy vegetables,” says Tiffany, who requires that market vendors meet strict standards. “Every step of their growing process has to make me feel comfortable, so if my son, or anyone’s child, picks up a tomato and eats it, I don’t have to wonder if that’s really the best thing for that child.”
The Selveys expect to open the season with 30 local vendors and an exciting array of food and handcrafted products. Top O’ The Mount Farm will offer pork and beef. Sweet Freedom Creamery will have a variety of their artisanal cheeses. Starlight Farms, Songbird Gardens, and others will ensure an ample amount of fresh produce each week.
In addition to food, Ozark Herbal Creations will sell natural body products, such as hand sanitizers and essential oils, and Ozark Apothecary will have soaps, lip balms, and salves. Team Springdale, an independent group that showcases Springdale businesses, events, happenings, and people, will offer T-shirts and other items supporting Springdale and the downtown initiative. The Selveys will also reserve space each week for nonprofit groups, such as the Springdale Animal Shelter, to have a presence at the market.
For those who need Saturday morning coffee and fuel while shopping, Woody’s Wagon, a new food truck, will be on hand with breakfast and lunch items, and Jammin’ Java will have coffee available for purchase.
Mill Street Market is located on Mill Street in Springdale, adjacent to the Shiloh Museum. It is situated in the green space next to the Razorback Regional Greenway trail, offering easy access to trail-goers. There is limited parking on Mill Street and additional parking behind First Security Bank off of Johnson Avenue.
Mill Street Market will be open every Saturday from April 30 to Oct. 16, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. For more information, visit the market's website
