VERMILLION, SD - You may have visited a farmer's market a time or two, but you've probably never seen one run by one Siouxland couple.
The Roetmans grow and sell every fruit, vegetable and herb you can imagine in their very own backyard and then sell it all at their home. They call it the Town Market and it all started 25 years ago.
Elaine and Dave Roetman both grew up around produce every day. When they moved to Vermillion and bought land, they decided they'd stick to their roots.
"When a person got the farm in your blood, it doesn't leave," said Dave Roetman.
So he and his wife got their garden going and pretty soon they agreed to start selling.
"If they can get something real fresh, we can pick it in the morning and they can get it in the afternoon. That's the way the folks like to get the produce," said Dave.
Elaine says it's not just a job for her and Dave. iIt's a way to help their friends and neighbors.
"We consider it a service to the community and I know they have farmer's market here in town, also, but we're open every day and we've got a variety of vegetables where farmer's market doesn't always have the variety that we have," said Elaine Roetman.
The Roetmans also grow and sell dill. An herb many people usually don't have. In order to keep it around for as long as possible, they figured out they could freeze it.
"We bought a little square freezer and put it in the garage and that's full of dill in the summertime," described Elaine.
This couple sure gets to know their customers.
"We have people stop by right after work. They've gotta have a tomato because they're going to have BLTs tonight. So a lot of times we know that this family and that family and that one and that one, they're all eating BLTs tonight," smiled Elaine.
At first, some people are a little skeptical about their business. Dave said it just takes a little convincing.
"Once in a while, somebody and 'Oh we can get it better somewhere else.' And I say go ahead and they're right back to come and get some more," laughed Dave.
Dave and Elaine open up their Town Market July 1 and sell their garden goods from 8 a.m. to about 6-7 p.m. every day.
