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Community Corner

Local Growers: Peter's Pumpkins and Carmen's Corn

Peter's Pumpkins and Carmen's Corn bring their tradition of homegrown fruits and vegetables to Fulton Farmers Market.

When Carmen Marshall first came to Minnesota from Peru to teach Spanish she had no thoughts of farming. She grew up next to the Pacific Ocean and was more interested in architecture than agriculture.

All that changed when she met her future husband, Peter Marshall, in a pumpkin patch.

“My husband comes from farming genes,” Carmen explained. After they married, they started a small operation in Shakopee that focused on sweet corn, watermelons, and pumpkins.

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Carmen said Peter taught her everything about how to use the equipment and she was happy to learn.

Although Carmen is now a farmer, her interest in teaching still comes through. Their table at Fulton Market has laminated cards that introduce the heirloom vegetables they sell and teach people about how to use them.

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“I like people to be educated about what they’re buying.” Carmen said.

Children’s groups often tour their farm and Carmen also likes to teach kids about how things grow.

Carmen and Peter’s enthusiasm for both farming and for their customers is evident. They both believe in making customers for life.

“I want people to come back all the time,” Peter said.

Peter’s Pumpkins and Carmen’s Corn no longer just sells corn, pumpkins and watermelon. By 2001, their farm had expanded and Peter’s was selling its produce at a number of farmer’s markets. Fulton Farmers Market was a new addition for them this season.

This week at Fulton their table was full of a variety of vegetables like heirloom eggplants, basil, cabbages, broccoli, sweet onions, hot peppers, cucumbers and kale.

While the other vegetables were popular, it was clear that the corn was still the star of the show. At Fulton Market this week customers lined up for corn, buying up to three dozen ears at a time.

“It’s nice to see people appreciating the corn,” Peter said. He gets up before dawn to pick the corn, ensuring that it will taste as sweet as possible.

Peter feels that the farmer’s markets are bringing people back to a more sustainable, delicious way of eating.

His grandparents used to sell directly to small stores that sold groceries in their local communities. Minnesota produce from small farms was readily available in the summertime.

Peter says that today grocery stores don’t buy local produce from small farms. Farmers Markets enable small farms to function by giving them a venue to sell directly to the people.

“Things have come full circle,” Peter said. People are once again able to eat fresh Minnesota produce in the summer time.

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