Osseo Farmers Market Features a Familiar, Friendly Face
The Osseo Farmers Market is small compared to other cities, but it’s large on produce and personalities.
Farmer Bruce Smith has been there from the beginning, sowing seeds of happiness throughout the community. The Smith family’s roots run deep in the northwest metro.
“My dad came from a huge farming family. My ancestors are the ones that led the original wagon train in and named that Brooklyn,” Smith explained.
The family use to own the land where Target’s Northern Campus headquarters sits in Brooklyn Park. Today, Bruce Smith does much of his planting and harvesting at his farm in Greenfield.
“I like growing things. I enjoy the serenity,” he said.
Bruce Smith: “I Just Kept Bugging Everybody”
For decades, the Smith farms brought fresh fruits and vegetables to area markets. Smith is the main vendor at the Osseo Farmers Market. His face and hardy laugh are a staple here.
“He started it. He has been here the longest. I think it was his initiation that got it going,” said Dee Boon, coordinator of the Osseo Farmers Market.
“I just kept bugging everybody until they finally said they would,” said Smith.
Smith’s farm offers a variety of vegetables, but corn and tomatoes are top sellers. Like the gleam on the tomatoes, his personality attracts people. He knows his customers, and they know him.
Pointing to a customer, Smith said “This lady drives down every Saturday morning or every other Saturday morning gets her corn grilled, and then goes over and gets her designer coffee.”
The Osseo Farmers Market runs every Tuesday afternoon through Sept. 24.
