By NATE KING
Salina Post
In a time before "organic" labels appeared on the packaging of produce sold at large grocery store chains, a Salina-based food cooperative with the goal of sourcing truly organic, farm fresh foods was born. Since its conception in the late 70s, the Prairieland Market has evolved into a year-round market, which is open to the public.
Salina Post sat down for an interview with Vickee Spicer, Prairieland Market executive director, to talk about the annual kick-off for the community supported agriculture (CSA) program and the market's plan to move to Santa Fe Avenue later this year.
CSA boxes, locally farmed produce
Spicer said the three words that are essential when it comes to fulfilling the mission of Prairieland Market are access to farm fresh foods, education on how to best preserve and prepare food items, and connecting consumers with local ag producers who work to keep the market shelves stocked.
In 2016, with those guiding words in mind, the Prairieland Market unveiled a new program aimed at getting Kansas farm fresh foods into the hands of more consumers. And so the Community Supported Agriculture offering was born.
"You come in, and you pick up your box of fresh vegetables and or fruits," Spicer said. "Things like cantaloupe, watermelon, apples, peaches, pears, all kinds of onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash zucchini and more."
The first CSA pickup of the 2023 growing season was Tuesday. The program is subscription-based and customizable to meet a customer's needs. Spicer said anyone can subscribe at any time, as there is no sign-up deadline.
When it comes to produce quality and freshness, Spicer said there is little comparison between produce purchased at chain grocery stores and the produce that makes its way from the farm to the market in a matter of a couple days, sometimes hours.
"Sometimes people will look and say, 'Yeah, this is pretty pricey for a tomato,' but it's not really," Spicer said. "First of all, the quality is not like anything, you're gonna get at Dillons or Walmart. Even the organic stuff you can't compare to stuff that's been grown in your own backyard. It's not coming from across the country where it was picked green off the vine and is ripening in the trucks. The produce you pick up at Prairieland Market is fresh picked."
Whether you are going on vacation or just need a break, Spicer said CSA subscribers can also put their subscription on hold at any time.
"If you go on our website, click on the CSA info tab and select whether you want a once a week or every other week pickup and whether you want a small share, which is $14 or large share which is $22," Spicer said. "The food in the boxes is seasonal and fresh from the farm. Each pick-up is a little different than the last."
Spicer said some local farmers decide to sell primarily through the farmers market, while others sell their produce through both Prairieland Market and the farmers market.
"Many of the farmers we work with, we met at the farmers market," Spicer said. "A lot of them still participate in the farmers market, and they also provide to us, and it makes a nice outlet for them. So what they have leftover that they don't sell they can bring to us."
Spicer said some farmers sell their produce solely through Prairieland Market because there is less hassle with preparing for a farmers market. Farmers and producers who sell their products through the Prairieland Market make 70 percent of the price consumers pay at the register.
"The key word is access and specifically access to local foods," Spicer said. "So instead of going to a farmers market, or growing it yourself, it's like a farmers market that's open all the time. Locally grown food is so much better for you, and it also supports the community."
CSA pickup is on Tuesday afternoons between 4-6 p.m. at Prairieland Market, 305 E. Walnut Street. For subscribers who can't pick up on Tuesday, accommodations can be made for a Wednesday or Thursday pickup.
"We typically like to have you pick your box up by Friday of that week because although most of it is going to keep well, there are some things that might get a little off," Spicer said. "If for some reason people can't get there, we'll either use that in some of the prepared foods, or we'll donate it to the local food bank if it is still in good enough condition."
Spicer said she also includes educational tidbits in each CSA box to let subscribers know more about the food's history or different ways to prepare it.
"I'll put together recipes on how to cook kohlrabi or 25 ways to sauté an onion, all different kinds of ideas, and maybe a little history about how the cantaloupe was introduced to the United States, some of those types of things that are just really fun to learn about," Spicer said.
A market on the move
Spicer said that back in 2020, a group of people proposed a plan to reimagine downtown Salina. Part of that plan included a farm fresh market.
"We have the hotel, new restaurants, it was like 'Gosh, you know, we really need is a market,'" Spicer said. "Well, there's Prairieland Market that's two blocks down. And so the 2020 group got together and said 'yes.'"
The one aspect of the market the 2020 group wanted to see expanded was the educational piece. Spicer said in the early part of last year a new board was formed and Prairieland Market received its non profit, 501(c)3 status. Along with becoming a newly formed non profit, the market is also moving to 118 S. Santa Fe Avenue by the end of 2023.
"We'll be right on the main drag, taking up three store fronts. It'll be four times larger than our modest little store on East Walnut. You will be able to go there and get lots of fresh fruits, organic bulk items and some prepared foods, cheese, ice cream and a variety of dairy products. So you could possibly go just there to buy your foods if you wanted to keep it local and organic and most of all really healthy," Spicer said.
The new location will also allow for a more comprehensive kitchen space for the market's Taste Buds, volunteer cooks and food preparers, to create healthy, lunch and dinner-ready meals and snacks fresh each week. Spicer said items include lasagna, quiche, burritos, soups, stews, hummus, salads, and more.
Spicer said over the next few months the public can expect to see some new branding and more design elements, though the familiar local and homestyle feel will remain the same.
"You're still going to see what it used to be just much bigger and more of it. Still looking local but also looking niche so people can come in from other places and check it out," Spicer said.
Spicer said more people are coming from outside of the county to try out the market's fresh foods which has lead to an increase in sales.
"We're getting new customers every single day," Spicer said. "I've talked to people who are traveling across the country who just Googled local healthy market, and pulled off the highway and came and got some things from us. The people that come in are from all walks of life, it's not some kind of exclusive, only for nature types store, it's for everyone. "
One important feature of the new store location will be the side entrance on the south side of the Santa Fe property.
"All our producers and farmers will be able to pull up in the back and unload," Spicer said. "Right now, they pull up right in front of the store and plop it on the counter. It's an interesting juggle right now."
Spicer said she has had multiple people in the community and loyal customers of the market ask her, "When will the new store be open?"
"After you see construction begin then count at least six months, from there usually. We're hoping maybe by the end of the year, but we might wait to do like a grand opening in the spring when we have flowers, produce and stuff like that for a really nice big event to open the new store."