NORTH LITTLE ROCK (April 13, 2021) – After eleven years of different incarnations, the Argenta Farmers’ Market in downtown North Little Rock has found a new home at Argenta Plaza at 510 Main Street in North Little Rock and will be open for longer hours (7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.) every Saturday.
“The two most exciting things for the 2021 market are the new location at the beautiful Argenta Plaza, and the hiring of Anna Sawyer as the market manager,” said Chris Kent, Executive Director of the Argenta Downtown Council. “We plan to be open all year, with greater focus on April through October.”
The Argenta Farmers’ Market, sponsored by the Argenta Downtown Council and the North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, features local farmers and artisanal vendors offering fresh produce, pasture-raised meat, dairy, locally produced jams, jellies, bread, honey and more. Argenta Plaza, completed in 2019, is a public space in downtown North Little Rock with stage, water features and outdoor seating. The plaza allows market vendors to space out, has capabilities for live music during the market, and is conducive for customers to shop. The location is within walking distance of local brunch and lunch options, such as Mugs Café, Skinny J’s, Reno’s Argenta Cafe, Nana’s Organix and Brood & Barley.
A recent graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and Spanish, where she was President of the college’s veggie co-op, Sawyer also serves as Community Garden Director for the City of North Little Rock. In 2020 she served in the Americorps, working to address food insecurity in Pulaski County and assisting the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) with developing an on-campus educational garden. She also taught the Grow My Plate culinary education curriculum to UALR students in partnership with the Arkansas Farm to School Initiative.
Argenta Plaza is located within the Argenta Outdoor Dining District, which allows restaurant patrons to enjoy food and drinks anywhere within the district daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Every third weekend, Argenta also closes Main Street to traffic for outdoor dining, live music and entertainment. Dubbed “Argenta Dogtown Throwdown,” the event encourages locals and visitors to enjoy Friday happy hours at local restaurants, Argenta Farmers’ Market and live music on Saturdays, and brunch at downtown restaurants on Sundays. For event details, follow Argenta Arts District on Facebook.
For more information about the Argenta Farmers Market, visit argentaartsdistrict.org or follow “Argenta Farmers’ Market NLR” on Facebook. The market is currently considering new vendors; interested parties should email argentamarketmgr@gmail.com.
