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Passion And Produce

Sep 14, 2015 11:30AM ● By Bryan Scott

Murray City Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of Alisha Soeken

By Alisha Soeken  

From kale and cucumber to free roaming eggs and goat cheese, the famers market is not just a place for food: it’s a place for passion. 

Adam and Dianna Diehl, of Adams Heirlooms, are passionate about food history.  They grow and sell only heirloom and antique varieties of fruits and vegetables at the farmers market. 

“Heirlooms are a tie to the past, to those who have gone before us. There is something special about eating the same varieties that were available to your great-great grandparents.” Dianna said.

The Diehls use unproductive urban properties to grown their organic produce. They improve the land they farm, let the landowners eat what they can and take the excess to market. Most landowners the Diehl’s work with are senior citizens who appreciate not only the produce and labor done for them, but the daily visits made by Adam as he weeds and waters.

From July 26 to Oct. 26, Murray City has a farmers market at Murray Park. There you can find many who are passionate not just about growing good food, but about eating it. Aurora and Samuel Hansen were ecstatic about their experience at the Murray market. 

“We came with only three dollars in cash and left with two days worth of food. I’m from Peru and buying at the market and bargaining reminds me of home,” Aurora said.

 “We live in Sandy by a Whole Foods, but we like to come here because it sure beats their prices,” Samuel said. 

At the Murray Farmers Market, you can also find passionate venders and friendly farmers. Laci Tagge, daughter of farmer Thayne Tagge of Tagges Famous Fruit and Vegetable Farm, sold red haven peaches, corn on the cob, raspberries, homemade jam and the biggest, sweetest blackberries you’ll ever taste. 

“We have 132 acres of land with over 20,000 peach trees and 30 different varieties of peaches,” Laci said. 

Sadie Slikker, who also works for Tagges Famous Fruit, said, “I work here because I’m selfish. I just like to eat as much fresh fruit as I can.”

Fresh fruit seemed to be what lured most market goers, but for others it was the simple call of community. Whether you come for peaches or passion, there is something wonderful about a farmers market: you feel more grounded to the earth and community, you’re able to meet the farmers that grow your food, you can ask them what makes their produce taste so good and see for yourself the pride they have in growing it.