The Mission Farm and Flower Market officially opened at the beginning of June, and is a great…read moreaddition to the shops along Johnson Drive. After an 18 month-long intensive infrastructure project to bring major updates and beautification to Mission's main drag, this local farmer's market, located in a grassy byway along the Rock Creek Trail between Reeds Road and Maple Street, helps add to Mission's "hometown downtown" feel. For those who live in the area, it's easily accessible on foot via the streamway trail and/or Johnson Drive, and for those who drive in, parking is plentiful and easily accessible at city lots at Outlook and on Woodson Rd., which offer access to the trail. Local businesses ScriptPro, Shortstop BP, and Casey Bros. Sinclair along Johnson Drive also have arrangements with the city to allow parking, and there is a ton of angle parking on the street due to the recent upgrades.
The market is new, but already has a good number of vendors setting up awnings on every Saturday, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., through September. In addition to produce vendors, several local shops have kiosks, including Dips and Sips, with their massive cinnamon rolls, and Werner's with their sausages. Vendors also sell popcorn, baked goods, local honey, plants, flowers, cheeses, soaps and lotions, farm fresh eggs, meats, and jams and jellies, to name a few. The market is open air and spread out along a popular dog walking trail, so there is plenty of space for pets, a grassy expanse for kids to play, as well. There was live folk music this morning, and I ran into Mission's mayor and his wife, who noted that bench seating and canopies will be added as the project progresses.
As a resident of Mission, one thing I appreciate is a sense of small-town community in an area that's metro-suburban, and projects like this really add to the neighborly, community feel. The first couple of Saturdays of the Market, rain has been an issue, but today's market was sunny and hot, and lots of people, vendor and customer alike, were out early. Lots of visiting with vendors, and just a really great, friendly community experience. I'll look forward to watching this neat new farmer's market grow, from the ground up.