The Reinbeck Farmers Market located on Broad Street pictured on Saturday, June 7. The market’s opening day this season was well-attended with many vendors selling out of their offerings. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

REINBECK – The Reinbeck Farmers Market opened for the season last Saturday morning to much fanfare with a robust turnout and roughly 10 vendors featuring everything from early season greens and pickled asparagus, to baked goods and fresh flower arrangements. There was even a trio of (free!) adorable farm kittens beckoning both the young and not-so-young for a pet and a cuddle.

“We have approximately 20 vendors (registered) this year but it will fluctuate from week to week,” Reinbeck Farmers Market Committee member Janet Tedore said as she worked to welcome folks to the market from her spot beneath the committee’s canopy tent.

Saturday’s theme was ‘Opening Day.’ As she greeted people, Tedore handed out free bags of baseball-themed goodies to children in attendance. She was also working to promote the upcoming ‘Reinbeck Night with the Bucks’ set for Monday, June 23, at Riverfront Stadium when the Waterloo Bucks host the Thunder Bay Border Cats. Discounted tickets are available online (https://waterloo-bucks.nwltickets.com/Buy/Tickets) using the promo code REINBECK.

Future market events include a much-anticipated butterfly tent on Saturday, June 28, sponsored by the Reinbeck Public Library; Birdy Young’s performance on Saturday, Aug. 16; and the annual Reinbeck Art Festival set for Saturday, Sept. 20.

While the farm kittens belonging to Taylor Frischmeyer seemed to be the most popular attraction on Saturday, a lot of people stopped by Rhythm Fiber Arts’ table to watch Kari Jo Ruden work her magic as she knitted a lovely ‘mermaid stitch’ baby blanket using various pastel yarns. Ruden has several knitting classes scheduled this summer at the CEC of Reinbeck, she said, including one featuring the aforementioned baby blanket. For more information, refer to Ruden’s Facebook page (Rhythm Fiber Arts).

Reinbeck Farmers Market vendor Kari Jo Ruden of Rhythm Fiber Arts stitches away on a mermaid baby blanket last Saturday. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Vendor Holly Robertson with Five R Farm was another hot spot along the market path. Robertson’s brilliant flower minis made with empty Miller High Life – “The Champagne of Beers” – bottles from The Dig Inn (her and husband Ben’s Reinbeck record store and bar) sold out quickly along with all of her bouquets and arrangements. This week’s High Life minis showcased ranunculus flowers (also known as buttercups) – a cool season beauty with tight, rose-like blossoms in a variety of colors.

While Robertson will miss next week’s market, a new local vendor she herself was excited for was McKenzie Weik with The Cozy Cottage Kitchen. “McKenzie makes the best bagels!” Robertson told the newspaper.

According to The Cozy Cottage Kitchen’s Facebook page, Saturday, June 14 will be Weik’s first Reinbeck market foray. Baked goods she plans to bring include brown butter chocolate chip cookies, strawberry shortcake cookies, cookies & cream cookies, cinnamon toast crunch cookies, cookie butter cookies, an assortment of bagels (plain, everything, cheddar, jalapeño cheddar, cinnamon sugar), and ‘soft & fluffy’ milk bread. To learn more, visit the business’s Facebook page or website (https://bakesy.shop/b/the-cozy-cottage-kitchen).

The Reinbeck Farmers Market is open every Saturday now through October from 10 a.m. to noon. The market is located in downtown Reinbeck in the 100 block of Broad Street.

For more information, refer to the market’s Facebook page (Reinbeck Farmer’s Market) or email market50669@gmail.com.

A collection of Five R Farm bouquets for sale on Saturday, June 7, at the Reinbeck Farmers Market. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

See you at the market!

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Children gather around a cage to pet a trio of farm kittens owned by Taylor Frischmeyer during opening day of the Reinbeck Farmers Market. While the kittens were a one-time experience, some 20 different vendors have registered to attend the market this season. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER