A cool summer breeze on a weekend morning, delicious apples reflecting bright sunlight off its skin, tomatoes so ripe they can be smelled 100 feet away, cucumbers so fresh that it’s like a bite of coolness and people catching up with friends on what’s happened during the week. This is what patrons find every Saturday at the Tower Grove Farmers Market.

English teacher John Ryan’s brother-in-law, Patrick Horine, started the farmer’s market five years ago after Horine’s family moved from California to St. Louis and missed the vibrant farmers’ market that Horine had shopped in California.

Since the start of the farmers’ market, the number of shoppers has grown from 500 per week to close to 4,000.

Along with the market, Horine also owns Local Harvest Grocery, and incorporates as much locally and organic grown food as he can into the store.

“The goal is to have 50 percent of our inventory come from within 150 miles of St. Louis,” Horine said. “In the summer months when produce is more plentiful, our percentage is higher then 50 percent.”

Horine says that when people shop at farmers’ market, they not only know where their money is going, but also know that they are supporting local business.

“When we buy institutionally-grown food, we have no idea who we are giving our money to,” Horine said. “But when we buy directly from the grower or producer, we can see the effect our spending is having on someone’s life and on the local economy.”

Horine says that although organic food is more nutritious, an additional benefit of organic produce is in protecting consumers from dangerous chemicals often used on conventionally grown food.

“Organic food refrains from using pesticide and other harmful sprays, and that makes me feel better about eating it,” Horine said. “Organic also means that is not genetically modified (GMO) as other conventional food often is, and to me, I would rather not participate in [that system].”

Although there is a perception that locally grown organic produce can cost more, Horine says that that is not always the case.

“Locally grown produce can be more expensive, but not always,” Horine said. “This is especially true during the peak parts of the growing season. For example, during the peak of the tomato season, fresh picked, delicious tomatoes can be purchased for less than those at the large supermarkets. And a lot of times, if you checked the provenance of tomatoes, you will find that they come from Holland, Mexico, California or other faraway places, and they don’t taste nearly as good as locally grown tomatoes.”

Although the regular operating season of Tower Grove Farmer’s Market is May to November, Horine said that famers manage a winter version of the market.

“The farmers have done a wonderful job in figuring out how to extend the growing season so they can offer fresh produce throughout the winter,” Horine said.

Ryan also agrees with Horine.

“There are a lot of root vegetables and farmers have been able to sell their goods canned or jarred and they are delicious,” Ryan said.

Horine said that there has been an incredible amount of positive feedback since starting the market.

“The biggest rewards for starting the market have been the outpouring of support from the neighborhood and witnessing the development of a vibrant community gathering space that buzzes and hums every Saturday,” Horine said. “We are also very proud that many businesses that have started at the farmers’ market now have brick and mortar establishments.”

Not only is the farmers’ market a success, but Ryan also believes that it brings the spotlight to Tower Grove Park as well.

“Tower Grove is a beautiful park and many people do not go there,” Ryan said. “They know about Forest Park, but they do not know about Tower Grove Park.”

As for those who are interested in becoming involved, but reluctant based on price, Horine gives a piece of advice, “come to the market for peak season produce and you will be pleasantly surprised by the price and even more so by the quality.”