The Ball State Daily News Online

Section: FEATURES
Originally published: 8/19/08 at 1:02 AM EST
Last update: 8/19/08 at 1:00 AM EST

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Matt Gunter doesn't like his tomatoes to be pretty.

While plump, uncracked, bright red tomatoes might be appealing to many grocery shoppers, Gunter says those tomatoes are riddled with pesticides and fertilizers and haven't the slightest bit of real flavor.

Gunter grows his own tomatoes, along with many other vegetables, at his home farm/garden in Madison County. Although one of his tomatoes might not turn out picture-perfect, he said it had flavor store-bought produce could never match.

"It hasn't been trucked for thousands of miles," he said. "When you're eating it fresh, by golly, it better be fresh and taste good. You think, 'Aw, that's what it's supposed to be like.'"

Gunter said he thought everyone should experience real Indiana tomatoes, as well as other local produce, and that's why he and his family spend all day on Fridays, even until 1 a.m. to prepare what they grow for selling at the Minnetrista Farmers Market every Saturday morning.

The market operates Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer and fall. This year's closing date is Oct. 25.

More than 40 vendors can be found on a typical Saturday morning, selling everything from banana bread to banana trees; iced coffee to semi-sweet wine; ears of corn to buffalo meat.

Ball State University senior Liz Mathis said she went to the farmers market regularly to buy fresh flowers for her house.

Gunter's table is covered in heirloom tomatoes, peppers, green beans, Indian eggplant and more. Gunter said he offered products that could not be found in stores, including many Thai cooking ingredients.

And the Minnetrista gathering is a perfect outlet for his produce, he said.

"We can gather all our stuff at one time, and there's a big market for it," he said. "These people are here with the intention of buying."

Gunter said the social aspect of the farmers market is one of the biggest draws for shoppers. The purchase of an ear of corn - which at a grocery store would only include a plastic bag, a twist tie and a swipe of a credit card - often becomes discussion of the planting season, the weather, the family and what's for dinner tonight at the Minnetrista Farmers Market.

"The environment down here is just great," Gunter said. "It's kind of a social scene; it's a lovely setting"

A typical Saturday morning at the Minnetrista Farmers Market includes red wagons toting small children and market purchases, lines of people asking what kinds of produce different vendors have available and a collection of shoppers congregating around small cafe tables outside of the Minnetrista Orchard Shop.

The shop is open year-round and features many locally grown products, such as salsa, dressing, preserves and pumpkin butter. It is another Muncie outlet for locally grown food, which is increasingly in demand in the wave of the "slow food" movement. The worldwide movement emphasizes the importance of appreciating fresh, flavorful food, instead of relying on chemically charged grocery items.

According to Slow Food U.S.A., the movement is dedicated to stimulating local food systems and creating environmentally friendly food production practices.

More info
WHEN? The Minnetrista Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. This year's closing day is Oct. 25.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE? Minnetrista Farmers Market offers food and other products from more than 40 vendors, ranging from the staples - green peppers, cantaloupe, tomatoes and pepper jack cheese - to the more surprising finds - banana trees, sunflowers, buffalo meat and wine.

WHAT ELSE? Those new to the kitchen might not know just what to do with fresh onions and green beans. Lucky for them, shoppers are treated to a free cooking demonstration on the last Saturday of each month at the farmers market.

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