Homegrown and homemade

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Gazebo Park in the center of Chester has been a busy place recently on Saturday mornings. This is the site of the Chester Farmer's Market which began May 15 and will continue through September 25. The weekend of September 11 will be skipped due to the Popeye Picnic events held on the site.

This is the 7th year for the Chester Farmer's Market to be sponsored by the Beautification Commission to provide a service to Chester residents. The market provides a location for area vendors to share their produce and products, and it provides a source of fresh vegetables, fruit and homemade items for many shoppers. The Saturday morning event opens by 7:30 a.m. and runs until the vendors are sold out.

As gardens are now producing well, as many as seven area vendors have been at the Chester Farmer's Market with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and homemade items. Some of the items recently available from vendors include: tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, sweet corn, onions, carrots, eggplant, green beans, garlic, cantaloupe, peaches, strawberries, blackberries, jellies, jams, relishes, breads, coffee cakes, sweet rolls, dessert cakes, pies, fudge, cookies.

Beautification Commission member Frank Benedict supervises the Farmer's Market each Saturday and member Tom Sauer assists when needed. Vendors provide their own tables and equipment. Some bring colorful canopies or umbrellas to protect themselves and the produce from the summer sun. More vendors are welcome to participate in this popular Saturday event. Anyone interested in being a vendor at the Chester Farmer's Market should contact Frank Benedict at 826-3370 in order to register.

The Beautification Commission is pleased to provide this service to Chester area residents and visitors to the community. The City of Chester appreciates the efforts of the volunteers to organize and supervise this public service, the vendors for participating and offering their fine products, and the local residents for supporting this community event. Everyone is encouraged to stop by the Chester Farmer's Market each Saturday morning for some fresh produce or homemade treats.