“My body’s ready for a break, but it’s been a good year,” said Eric Gedenk between sales at the Ploughshare Farm stand.

The organic farm in Moiese is a regular vendor at the Polson Farmers Market, which wrapped up for the season last Friday morning.

Although it was a breezy day, presaging a stormy weekend, Third Avenue East was fairly busy as market goers stocked up on cabbages, root vegetables, late tomatoes, fresh greens and baked goods while browsing craft items.

“Our tomatoes and peppers were slow, but they figured it out in the end,” Gedenk said, as Mary Converse – a customer since 2014 – inspected his beets.

Across the street, market organizer Linda Sheridan was selling the last of her tomatoes, a few summer squash, apples, fruit jam and pickles.

It was a productive year at her Garden of Summer, near Dixon, especially for apples and blackberries. “I had unreal amounts this year,” she said.

Sheridan has been bringing her perennial plants, flowers and produce to the market since 2005. She eventually took over organizational duties, which she now shares with Wendi Arnold of Flathead Lake Cheese.

This summer, the market expanded to the other side of Main Street and had around 55 vendors.

Sheridan said the market’s aim is to showcase crafts and produce from growers and artisans within a 50-mile radius of Polson, with an emphasis on unique products. One exception is the Hutterite farmers who come from near Great Falls.

“We're not even going to talk about how far they drive, but they have been a staple from the Fourth of July to the end of the season for a very long time,” said Sheridan.

Last year’s efforts by city government to move the market to a new location on the north side of Highway 93 were soundly defeated after an outpouring of support from vendors, customers and downtown businesses.

Arnold hopes to expand even more next summer, since they have access to the entire block from Main Street to First Street West. “The goal, if I can get all my ducks in a row, is for us to have prepared food vendors at the very end,” Arnold said.

Meanwhile, the women agree it’s been a good, albeit speedy summer, and both are looking forward to a break before the season resumes next May, typically on the first Friday.

“We're small enough that we can be family oriented, and our goal is for the customers to be happy and the vendors to be happy,” Sheridan said. Judging from last Friday’s bustle and the full bags of shoppers, both goals were met.

    Polson Farmers Market organizers Linda Sheridan and Wendi Arnold wrapped up another season last Friday. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)