Hundreds turned out Sunday for the first of many Farmer’s Markets this year at Castro Park.

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The market will be held each Sunday through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park.

Produce was still a  little sparse due to the earliness of the season, but visitors were still eager to inspect the carrots, onions and lettuce, check out the seedlings from the DHS greenhouse, buy homemade items like honey, apple cider and pies, goat’s milk soap, lotions and a variety of crafts. There was also a cooking demonstration and performance by the Simmons Family bluegrass Band from Douglas.

“This is a wonderful turnout,” said Valerie McCaffrey, who has helped in the market startup. She started the market in Bisbee and participated in the startup in Sierra Vista.

“I  really appreciate all of the support provided by the merchants, farmers and  others that set up here. I hope this event lasts forever.”

She said that Douglas had a much better startup than that of Bisbee.

“The proximity to Mexico, also gives this market a different feel.

“At this point I can only see this growing.”

Regional Farmer’s Markets are now held in Sierra Vista on Thursdays, Bisbee on Saturdays and Douglas Sundays.

Participants Sunday included Desert Bloom, Montoya's Produce, La Buena Vida Farms, La Carreta, Simmons Honey, El Mitote, Coyote Corners Farmers, Spadefoot Nursery, Stout’s Cider Mill, Cinstar Farms, Douglas High School Future Farmers of America, Giselle Billeadeau (soaps and lotions), Sr. Mary Kirkhoff plants, Scott McCleve (produce), Just Coffee and the DHS Land Lab.

Co-sponsors of the market include the City of Douglas, the Southeast  Arizona Medical  Center, The Douglas Area Food Bank, Greater Douglas Chamber of Commerce and the Cochise County Health Department.

Kathleen Gomez of SAMC and the Greater Douglas Chamber of Commerce said that they have earnestly been working for the last year to get the event started. Discussions about the program actually started as far back as three years ago.

The City of Douglas pledged that it would do everything it could to help start the farmers market and offered reduced fees for the Castro Park, with its tall shade trees, stage, fountain and seating as the primary site in addition to the historic old Phelps Dodge Building next to the Gadsden Hotel on G Avenue as the high wind/rain location.

Gomez sees the farmers market as one of the steps needed to promote healthier eating.  She is very enthusiastic about it having lived in New York City where lots of fresh produce is available from many farmers markets.

According to Gomez, “The farmers market will provide an educational arena for the public to learn about nutrition and a healthy lifestyle while enticing all of us into including more fresh fruits and vegetables in our diets. The market will offer another social opportunity for our community, a place to gather, stroll and relax while listening to talented local musicians and watching cooking and handcraft demonstrations.  It is also important to support local and regional farmers and growers, especially in today’s world.  If we can change and enhance the public’s eating habits, especially our youth, then maybe our community can turn the tide of its high diabetes rate and become a healthier community,” she said.

SAMC  offered free blood pressure and blood sugar checks at the market’s opening and information on healthy eating and snacks.

For vendor applications and flyers for the Douglas Farmers Market contact Lea Dodge at 805.0086 and leadodge@msn.com or Kathleen Gomez at 805.5938 and kgomez@samcaz.org. Information is also available at the Visitor’s Center.