Produce Stand Operated by Springfield Resident

Jerry Bush operates his produce stand on Route 4 and West Center Street. He sells sweet corn, cantaloupe, peaches, and tomatoes.

Springfield resident Jerry Bush is hosting a produce stand in Girard on the corner of Route 4 and West Center Street. The produce comes from the Amish at an auction in Vandalia, IL, 69 miles northeast of St. Louis. He is usually posted up Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 a.m.

When the County Market burned down on May 7, 2015, someone suggested that he set up a produce stand for people in Girard. Bush sells the produce Saturday and Sunday as long as he doesn’t get rained out. “Girard has been very good to me so far, friendly people,” Bush says. “Some of them come back, so that’s a good thing, too.”

Bush says that being right on Route 4, he sees a lot of traffic come by, but it is still a small town. “I like it because it’s not city pace,” he says. “Everyone’s a little bit more relaxed.”

He was out selling produce Monday, including sweet corn, cantaloupe, peaches, and tomatoes. His wife takes care of a man in Girard, he says. That’s how he heard about the County Market fire, and heard the suggestion that he start selling his produce here. Business is good, he says.

Last year, he started out at the Shell station until he moved near D&D Service Center. “People appreciate fresh produce,” he says.

Bush says that his wife will go to the farmer’s market for produce even though it’s a higher price because it’s better quality. All of Bush’s produce is home grown in Illinois. He especially likes the tomatoes. “I don’t know what they do, but they grow some good tomatoes,” he says.

Peaches are priced at $1 per peach. His tomatoes cost $5 for 6, or $1 each. His sweet corn costs $5 per ounce, or $3 per half ounce. And, his cantaloupes cost $4.

“Part of the reason I’m here today is unlike a lot of other merchandise, produce doesn’t wait until next week,” he said about being out selling on a Monday.

He tries to stay cool in this hot and humid weather under a white tent.

“The nice thing about fresh produce is they don’t pick it as green as they do in the store,” he says. “It has time to ripen on the ground, which makes for a better product.”

He said he would probably be out here again Friday morning.

He attributes his sales to good fortune and work ethic. When I wished him luck, he said, “When you’re trying to sell stuff, you do need that good luck. Hard work and good luck.”

Source: Produce Stand Operated by Springfield Resident Produce Stand Operated by Springfield Resident

The article Produce Stand Operated by Springfield Resident
can be viewed at this post