Welcoming New Vendors on Opening Weekend and Beyond
Our 2024 outdoor market season kicks off this weekend, and we're thrilled to introduce you to the new vendors joining us for the opening days at our Fulton and Kingfield markets. Stay tuned to our blog as we showcase the Neighborhood Roots market newcomers, along with profiles on our returning vendors, offering insights into the wonderful small businesses that make up our vibrant market community. Without further ado, let's meet this talented lineup of artisan food entrepreneurs you’ll encounter at the market this weekend.
Fulton Farmers Market, May 18
Eggroll Queen, Mai Vang is an East Side legend. She’s made eggrolls to support her community in St. Paul, and got her start selling eggrolls to support those in her community facing financial hardships, and also to pay her own medical bills after losing her hearing in 2013. Now, Mai and her family are building a jumbo eggroll empire. Come see what the hype is all about. For all the latest with Eggroll Queen be sure to give them a follow on Facebook.
Longfellow Little Farm is a one-woman operation, owned and operated by Amy Kleinknecht, who has transformed her yard into an urban farm. This weekend, make sure to visit her booth for a diverse selection of starter plants, including unique and heirloom vegetables, herbs, and flowers, as well as seasonal planters of flowers and foliage. All plants and produce are grown exclusively by Amy in her home and backyard in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis.
As the season progresses look for Amy’s curated selection of Asian greens, heirloom veggie varieties, and unique hot peppers.
Zambezi Biltong brings the rich tradition of Southern African biltong to the United States. As the first and only BIPOC African-owned biltong company in the US, Zambezi Bilton is made from 100% beef marinated with six timeless ingredients, then air-dried and thinly sliced to perfection. A stop by the Zambezi Biltong booth is a celebration of global flavors and cultures. Be sure to stop by for a taste of a truly authentic meat snack experience, tailored for today's protein-hungry snack enthusiasts.
Kingfield Farmers Market, May 19
atelier mamako is a home studio that makes upcycled fabric collage/assemblage patches and hand-bound journals. Cofounders Jacques Elate Joss and Carmen Elate create colorful patchworks with tissus pagnes, bazins, and upcycled fabric. They are inspired by travels, adventures, and fabric scraps that bring new ideas into our lives. Be sure to give them a follow on Instagram at @ateliermamako
The man Behind the Breadbox, Tom Nechodomu considers himself an experimental baker, he loves learning, challenging what he knows, and making yummy things even yummier. Tom's bread is some seriously blue ribbon-worthy stuff, and you better not pass on his cinnamon swirl loaf. Tom also has a plastic bag recycling program, stop by his booth to learn all about it and visit his website to learn more about this awesome local baker.
Charles Lodge has been harnessing the healing power of mushrooms in easy-to-use tinctures since 2012. Forest Gold Botanicals are produced in small batches and made with responsibly grown and harvested mushrooms and local, organic ingredients whenever possible. His line up of tinctures includes Lion's Mane, Chaga, Turkey Tail, Reishi, Cordyceps, and Maitake. Visit.forestgoldbotanicals.com to read Charles’ story on how a quest for exercise and morels led to getting into the mushroom business!
Follow along this opening weekend by following Fulton Farmers Market and Kingfield Farmers Market on Instagram. If you’re interested in lending a hand, sign up for volunteer shifts here. And if you’re not already subscribed to our e-newsletter, do so here to receive all the information you need to plan an unforgettable market visit right in your inbox each week during the growing season. Thanks for your support and we’ll see you at the farmers market!