Country Market’s Produce Fest offers more than corn on the cob
By Zach Manges
In the midst of a sizzling summer, those on the prowl for deliciously healthy attractions don’t have to look far. Zionsville has a plethora of offerings for fresh produce in the next couple of months that shouldn’t be missed. Among them is the tucked-away Country Market and Lunch Room on Michigan Road, which is bringing back its Produce Fest this summer after seven years, offering local sweetcorn, tomatoes, and much more beginning in July and running until the “fresh” season ends.
“It’s going to be a nice coming back and reopening of a fresh produce stand at the Country Market,” said Lori Bankert, co-owner of Country Market. “It’s nice to see people appreciate the work of farming and how it produces something really wonderful. It’s a good product: good for people, and good for the community.”
Country Market was born a little more than two decades ago when the Bankert family gave up the corporate world with the hope of creating a business to distribute fresh, locally grown produce to the community. Though the idea had originated as a side project, it grew over the years into the successful restaurant most patrons will know it as today, along with a variety of seasonal offerings including the summer and fall produce.
“The market started as an indoor produce stand. We had it year-round along with a deli,” Bankert said. “The traffic wasn’t heavy enough then and we didn’t have enough people coming through to sustain those perishables. What took off was the deli.”
Despite this alteration in the original vision for the market, fresh produce has remained important to the Bankerts. The family-friendly atmosphere of the produce stand is one they’ve found to have numerous benefits beyond its worth as a viable business. Growing up in such an environment provides opportunities to learn about crop growth and develop a lifelong work ethic.
“We love doing it as a family, and there’s nothing better than fresh produce to feed your family. You get to go back and eat right out of your garden,” Bankert said. “We started selling produce from the back of our hay wagon and then we just kept growing it from there.”
Aside from its restaurant service, Country Market is perhaps best known these days for its annual Pumpkin Fest, a month-long event in October where visitors can enjoy hay rides, a corn maze, live entertainment, and of course the eponymous squash. Now, the Bankerts are bringing back their other seasonal specials as well. These include the sale of Christmas trees in winter, flowers in spring, and the Produce Fest in summer and fall that brings patrons corn, gourds and peppers.
Bankert said they try to have all the corn and veggies in stock by the Fourth of July weekend, though they will be on shelves within a week if that date isn’t met. Produce will be available through the end of summer and as far into fall as they sprout from the ground.
“It all depends on how long the crops last. We’ll have corn coming in every four or five days. We hope to run through Labor Day with sweetcorn, but it’s all up to Mother Nature,” Bankert said. “Sometimes the weather makes it such that we can go into September.”
Though the produce is not 100-percent organic, additional products used during their growth are minimized to ensure the freshest crops possible. The Country Market has had requests for the return of its sweetcorn and tomatoes during the Produce Fest’s hiatus and is eager to once again offer them to patrons, along with its slew of other green goodies.
“We’ve advertised with our local customers that it’s coming and people are excited,” Bankert said. “We know people are willing to pay a little extra and make a special trip to know it’s something that was fresh picked that day. They can always count on the quality and they’ll come back for that.”
In addition to Country Market’s plentiful offerings, the Zionsville Farmers Market will help satisfy the health-conscious. Doud Orchard, Full Hand, KG Acres, and Stillhelm are just a few that will be providing a produce fix. Wherever they come from, though, patrons won’t go wanting for the cool crunch of veggies this July.
