People in Charleston have only one reason to go to the Square early on Wednesday mornings during the summer months. The Charleston farmers’ market is a great place to be to purchase fresh produce and socialize with friends.

Joan Young, from Paris, has been going to farmers’ markets for close to 40 years. She and her husband lived on a farm and would sell their produce at markets in Danville, Paris, Bloomington and Champaign.

When Claudia Laymore, an employee at the Hallmark store that used to be on the Square, called her and asked if she would like be in a farmers’ market in Charleston that she wanted to start, Young said yes.

Young and her family have now been a part of the Charleston market for 35 years. When they sold their farm in 1988, they bought a house in town and still have three gardens, Young said.

Her family now goes to the markets in Paris and Charleston, mainly because she and her husband are getting older and are starting to have health problems. But she said her husband, her two sons and herself still love coming to the markets.

“I enjoy the people,” said Young. “We meet a lot of nice people. It is a shame when you don’t see them for a while. People get older and you lose friends as the years go by.”

Farmers’ markets, Young explains, are “something that gets in your blood. It’s nice selling all the produce but also enjoying the public. It’s the people that counts.”

Young recalls her favorite memory from going to farmers’ markets. One of the best times she had was at the Champaign markets in the late 1970s. She remembers the contests they had.

“One time my husband made a doll out of butternut and acorn squash,” said Young. “Its hair was made of corn chucks and he drew a face on it. Everyone just loved it. They were taking pictures and everything. It is my favorite memory.”

She and her husband want to continue going to farmers’ markets but it all depends if their health holds out.

“My husband is starting to have health problems, and we are both diabetic,” said Young. “As long as we can do it, and enjoying doing it, we would like to [go to farmers’ markets] for a couple more years, but you never know. But hey, it’s better to be active than just sitting around in a rocking chair.”

Young is just one of the many sellers out on Sixth Street on the Square on Wednesday mornings. The farmers’ market starts the first Wednesday in June and continues every Wednesday until mid-October.

Dorothy Beachy has been coming to the farmers’ market for two weeks. She and her children set up a stand on the south side of City Hall. They sell homemade Amish goods, including bread, noodles and cakes.

“It’s been going pretty good so far,” said Beachy. “The bread, cinnamon rolls and cakes are the top favorites, but the bread does the best.”

She plans to remain for the rest of the season but is not sure if she will return next year.

“It depends on how this year goes,” said Beachy. “But so far so good.”

Jeanie Davis, from Charleston, is another seller who provides baked goods. Her slogan is “homemade without the hassle.”

Davis has been a part of the farmers’ market on and off for about 20 years. She explains that she got into the market out of desperation.

“For years I was part of a one-income family,” explains Davis. “It got to the point where I needed to do something, either work for someone else or myself. So I became self-employed.”

Davis got into baking 25 years ago. After growing up around her mothers baking, she asked a friend to teach her how to make bread. After that, she learned how to make cakes so she can bake her daughters birthday cakes. So when the need came up for another job, it seemed baking was the perfect choice. Now lines of people surround her tent just for a taste of some of her homemade baking. She takes requests for cakes from customers and brings in other, simpler requests from respected customers.

She wants to return next season and even has plans for a commercial kitchen based in Charleston.

Another prospering first time stand is Eddie Beck Farms. Steve Bridges, site manager for Beck farms, says the stand got its name from owners Mike and Karol Beck’s lovable Jack Russell Terrier, Eddie.

Bridges said the stand runs its product from a greenhouse on Ashmore Road, just south of Oakland, that just opened this year.

For their first year at the farmers’ market, sales seem to be doing pretty good, explains Bridges. Unfortunately their produce is not ready yet, but they have been selling flowers and herbs.

“The biggest selling product is the potted plants because not only do they look pretty but the quality of the plant is so much better than everyone else,” said Bridges. “We are selling a lot of flowers but as soon as the produce is ready we will sell that in the summer as well and mums in the fall.”

Bridges also agrees that the people make the market. He raves that “everyone here are really good people. Up from Mike [Knoop] who runs it to the customers. They are all really good people.”

Mike Knoop has been running the market for about 12 years. As owner of Roc’s Blackfront, it is easy for him to walk across the street in the morning and help keep the market in order.

“Being a merchant on the Square, someone needed to do it,” said Knoop. “It is run by the Uptown Merchant Association but I do all the advertising and collect the money from the vendors for their rented space.”

Knoop loves coming to the Square early on Wednesday mornings. He arrives on site at 4:30 a.m. and supplies free coffee for everyone from Roc’s. Merchants start selling at 5:30-5:45 a.m. and usually finish between 10-10:30 a.m.

“It’s a great place for people to socialize,” said Knoop. “You see the same people every Wednesday. They come out, have a cup of coffee and just talk.”

Bill Cornwell of Toledo prepares her vegetables at the Farmers Market Wednesday morning.

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