BELOIT — Brenda Dautermann was putting a variety of tomatoes in a bag for a customer — red, yellow, and even purple tomatoes.
“We have an over-abundance from the garden this year,” she said as she helped her clients at the first weekend of the Winter Crafter and Farmers Market on Saturday.
Darcy Beyer, promotion coordinator for the Downtown Beloit Association, said There were 25 vendors selling crafts, vegetables, bread and more inside the DBA offices at 557 E. Grand Ave. Also a food truck — Lyna Buba Tea — was parked outside the building.
“It’s a good start and it’s a gorgeous day outside,” Beyer said.
The DBA Farmers Market, which runs each Saturday from May through October with about 85 to 100 vendors selling vegetables, baked goods, crafts and more. The outdoor Farmers Market ended on Saturday, Oct. 31 with the annual Halloween Parade and Party.
The smaller, indoor market also runs each Saturday from 9 a.m. — noon from November. to April.
Beyer said the Crafters and Farmers Market features a number of vendors who are regulars at the outdoor market, as well as a few new vendors.
Dautermann, was selling tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and squash which is grown by her son, Andrew Dautermann, the owner of Country Gold Produce in Beloit. The family have been returning to the downtown Beloit market for about 18 years.
“My daughter (Valerie) started it when she was 16,” Brenda Dautermann said. “Then I started doing it and now my son runs the business.”
In the back room of the Downtown Beloit Association building, Amanda Nichols was displaying her crocheted stuffed animals and other crafts. This is the first year she has displayed her works, under the business name Crooked Crown, at the DBA Crafters and Farmers Market.
“I’m a teacher who would like to make a little extra income,” said Nichols, who lives in Roscoe and is a teacher at Machesney Elementary School in Machesney Park.
Also in the back room of the DBA building was Dana Dowden of Gnomies. As her business name implies, her thing is making Gnomes. She has been bringing her Gnome dolls and figures to the Farmers Market for two years.
“I started by making them for friends and family,” she said.
She then started taking special orders, making Gnomes out of soldiers’ fatigues and even making a Wonder Woman Gnome.
Dowden has done both the outdoor and indoor markets in Beloit.
“The outdoor market is good as long as the weather is nice,” she said.
The Winter Crafters and Farmers Market offers lots of produce, food and crafts and might be a good idea for a stop for those looking for unique holiday gifts.
To learn more about the market and other DBA events, visit the website at https://www.downtownbeloit.com/
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