Rison Farmers Market Taking New Approach

RISON - The Rison Farmers Market will operate a little differently this summer in Rison.The Market will hold official monthly markets during the Rison Shine and Pioneer Village Food Truck Friday event series, held the third Friday of each month, the first happening this Friday, June 21 beginning at 4 p.m.Free vendor space is available for those wanting to sell produce, cottage foods and more.Organizers said the new market will essentially replace the Rison Farmers Market that was held Thursday evenings during the summer months in FBT Community Park in downtown Rison. "In the past years, we learned from vendors and shoppers that the weekday evenings did not work for everyone, and some were finding more success elsewhere in town in parking lots or on the highway," Market organizers said."We're trying the Market at the Village this summer with Food Truck Fridays, and also offering other opportunities for people to set up." For planning purposes, anyone interested in being a vendor for the Food Truck Friday market event is encouraged to send an email to risonshines@gmail. com listing their name, contact phone number and description of what they will be offering. (Please note the "s" behind Rison Shine in the email address). All vendors will be set up outside, and will need to bring their (continued from page 1) own table, chairs and canopy, if desired.For any vendors wishing to set up on a more frequent basis to sell produce, the Farmers Market organizers have partnered with Rison Mayor Charles Roberts.Roberts has offered the old Texaco station at 730 Hwy. 79 in Rison as an option for vendors to use the parking lot to set up to sell produce when it is convenient for them. There will be no charge to set up at this location.Ashley Thompson, a frequent vendor at the Rison Farmers Market in the past, has also launched her Sweet T Farm Market at 11300 Highway 63 in Pine Bluff, just north of the Cleveland/Jefferson county li...