The Tioga community showed support for local vendors at the July 24 farmers market.
These evening markets are held only four times a year, and as the word spreads, so does the number of attendees.
“There's just like a fun energy about the night market,” said Clare Graham- Riecke, returning vendor of One Sweet Dove. “I'm just excited to be outside and enjoy this summer night and see folks enjoying the great outdoors.”
Amber Whitworth-Spigner is the market coordinator for The Farmer’s Wife Markets.
The company helps organize markets in other cities, such as Sanger, Justin and Valley View.
The company approached Tioga and received the green light.
“Farmers markets have such a great community amongst vendors and small businesses,” Whitworth- Spigner said. “… We're a small business ourselves, so we just try and promote all the other local small businesses.”
Vendors like Jacklyn Kruger Luensmann of Kruger Garden Farm, who grows fresh produce in her garden, shared what the market means to her.
“It means getting our produce to our neighbors, to our community, feeding them local,” Luensmann said. “We don't have a grocery store here, so this is the closest thing they're going to get. … It's also supporting the downtown businesses, so everyone's going to the pizza shop tonight [and] ice cream shop.”
Luensmann was also credited with the idea to bring the farmers market to Tioga.
“I live here in Tioga, and I wanted to bring my community together with the farmer's market,” Luensmann said. “We have this beautiful space here downtown that wasn't being utilized. So, Amber and I set up a farmers market, and it's been growing, and this is our biggest one yet.”
She added that the market is sponsored by the Tioga Economic Development Corporation, which covers the cost of the band and advertising.
“We're super grateful for the city's support and for the community support and just helping us make this a fun environment for everybody,” Luensmann said.
Ty Junah and the Young Guns provided the musical entertainment.
“I really liked the live music,” attendee Wren Sanchez said. “I was able to dance and sing all the way through. They were playing some good songs and also some originals.”
Sanchez, who recently moved to Tioga, appreciated the vendors' friendliness and said it was a warm welcome to the city.
“All of the vendors were really cool,” Sanchez said. “They had all types of things. They had desserts. They had salsas. They had soaps. I got so many things.”
This was the market's first time having a food truck, with food from Tiny Tina’s Deli and Grill. There to accompany Sanchez were fellow friends.
“I've lived here my whole life,” Stephanie Hodges said. “I've been to school here since pre-K, [and] I graduated in 2024. So, it's really cool to see how much this little town that used to be so ittybitty … get to do farmers' markets now. That is mind-boggling to me.”
The next market in Tioga is planned for Sept. 25.
The Farmer’s Wife Markets will post more information on their Facebook and YouTube pages @Tioga Farmers Market, as well as on the website at thefarmerswifemarkets. com.
“We just appreciate the Tioga community and everybody coming out and supporting our small businesses,” Whitworth-Spigner said.
