By Madeleine SutherlandRecord Staff WriterFor the Warren County Farmers and Artisans Market group, success revolves around April showers bringing May flowers, as well as an abundance of fresh produce.The nonprofit group operates a farmer’s market in both Wright City and Warrenton. Each supply their community with homegrown food, crafts and fun.The market is held every Tuesday in Warrenton and Thursday in Wright City. Both markets are open from 3:30-6:30 p.m.The farmers market in Warrenton is currently in its second year of operation after being brought back by the Farmers and Artisans Market group in the summer of 2014.John Claire, the market master of the Warren County Farmers and Artisans Market, spearheaded the resuscitation of the market.“It went great last year,” said Claire. “It was better than expected. We had people almost all the time between 3:30 and 6:30.”In Wright City, the market has been booming for a number of years. Crafters meet in the pavilion of Diekroeger Park, while other vendors line the park’s walkways each week.“It’s always been steady in Wright City for years, and that’s what we hope to end up in Warrenton with too,” stated Claire.Both markets offer a variety of produce, breads, homemade baked goods, jams and jellies, as well as goat’s milk, popcorn, and lemonade. Local artisans showcase quilts, soaps, jewelry, stained glass, woodworking products, and more. Fresh cuts of meat are also available.Claire, who gets his Easter ham from the market each year, believes that the farmer’s markets provide many benefits to the community.“A market provides fresh produce to people at a reasonable price. It’s just good nutrition,” he noted.The group’s goal this year is to have 50 vendors at each market. Vendors can claim spots for $30, which grants them access to set up at both Warrenton and Wright City for the entire year.“We have just hoped to take what we have and build on it,” said Claire. “We are constantly looking for vendors and people who have interests in a lot of different things just to help increase the volume.”The Farmers and Artisans Market group hopes to have enough vendors and community member traffic that space becomes an issue.“The Warrenton pavilion only allows us so much space,” Claire said. “So far we haven’t had a problem, but it could get to the point to where we have to try to rearrange. That would be a very good problem to have.”To reach out to the community even further, the group has planned a customer appreciation day July 30 in Wright City and August 4 in Warrenton.“We’ll have a few little extra things there like demonstrations on how to cook and barbecue some of the goods we offer,” said Claire.Each market also will offer handouts for visitors and drawings for vendor items.The farmers markets season will close in October.Farmer's Market