Submitted Photo The North Prairie Farmers Market offers a variety of locally grown and locally produced products. Here Peggy Walter of Cutbank Creek Produce is serving consumers.

The North Prairie Farmers Market will be starting its 13th season on Saturday. The market will run every Saturday at the intersection of Broadway and 3rd Avenue SW from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

When asked what all the market offers, Marvin Baker of North Star Farms says diversity. With items from fresh and local produce to baked and canned goods to pottery and homemade soap and more, they draw a great crowd each year.

The North Prairie Farmers Market was started in 2007. It started with four vendors, three who sold produce and one who sold baked goods.

“I met with the Downtown Association and they unanimously supported having a farmers market in downtown Minot. So my wife and I spent July 2007 recruiting vendors and we got started the first Saturday in August 2007 with the four of us,” said Baker.

After a successful first year, they had to find a larger space as the market grew. First they found a spot with the ReStore on Broadway, staying there for two seasons, before needing to move again to provide more space for vendors and shoppers alike. This led them to their current spot in a Trinity Health parking lot.

“Because Trinity Health supports healthy eating habits, they were on board with what we were doing and we’ve had a great relationship ever since,” Baker said.

Vendors for the North Prairie Farmers Market come from all around with some from Carpio, Fessenden, Harvey, Devils Lake, Bowbells and Minot Air Force Base along with many local vendors taking part.

A couple of them, including Baker himself, have been around since the beginning with Gladys Kraft of Norwich there since the second season.

The North Prairie Farmers Market isn’t the largest, but they bring in a large crowd every year with a good relationship between vendors and consumers. The market will run from July 6 through the end of October if weather permits.

“We would hope that those who have never stopped at our market, to give us a try. We think you will like what you see,” Baker said.

North Prairie Farmers Market can be found on Facebook.