The Sanderilla Thomas Bungalow in Rothschild Francis Market Square – known widely as Market Square – was alive Tuesday with the spirit that reigned over the historic institution for years, harkening back to a time when folks came early in the morning to get their greens for the day, chat with friends and take their bounty home before the heat got to it.
Agriculture Commissioner Louis Petersen was working to revive that spirit, to engage the community with its roots, in one of a continuing series of events. Tuesday marked the island’s participation in National Farmers Market Week.
Earlier this year, on National Market Day, a celebration of National Agriculture Week was celebrated at the landmark location.
Swathed in the morning sun, the square was alive with what Petersen said he wanted to see: "Producers and consumers interacting together."
Glancing at folks pouring over the stalls bursting with lush displays of produce – Jamaican and scotch bonnet pepper, deep red and orange hued mangos, fat pineapples, soursop, bananas, plantains – Petersen looked pleased.
"It’s a free-flowing morning," he said. "People enjoying one another."
And not just one another. Folks were gobbling up the goodies – pumpkin johnny cakes, fresh ginger-soursop juice, Jambie’s famous pumpkin soup, which no market would be complete without, honeys, and hot sauces of almost every description, along with June Archibald’s Precious Produce jellies and glazes, while DJ Alpha kept the beat with reggae tunes.
Tuesday’s market had an extra added health feature – free health screening, to go along with the move to encourage healthy eating. The Agriculture Department partnered with the East End Medical Center, setting up a tent at the northern end of the market, which provided the screening, and medical advice to a steady line of folks most of the morning.
St. Croix made itself known with produce and juices by O’Neal Breed Pennyfeather.
"Try this," he said to a thirsty looking couple, handing them a cup of Ginger-soursop juice.
"Oh, my," one woman said, "It’s so good."
Pennyfeather, known on St. Croix for his showmanship at the agriculture fairs, grinned. "It is, it should be."
Visitors Nikia and Jakim Redhead, vacationing New Yorkers, took an interest in the fresh bounty.
"We like to wander when we travel," Nikia Redhead said. "We saw all the people and the bright produce, and this old market, and we had to come and see what’s going on. It’s beautiful."
Petersen said while the St. Thomas Agriculture Fair, coming up this fall, is always the biggest attraction, there’s more on the way beforehand.
"We’re going to do a beekeeping project for the public some time in September," he said. "We’ll announce the location next month.
Meantime, Market Days are scheduled for:
St. Croix
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Farmers Market 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Rudolph Shulterbrandt Agriculture Complex
Health screenings from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
St. John
Sunday, August 14
Farmers Market 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Old Lumber Yard Complex
