Pony Express Farmers' Market

Woodbine Rd. and Frederick Ave. sets the scene for Pony Express Farmers' Market in the East Hills Mall parking lot, where the market operates as a grower-only outlet in St. Joseph. That grower-only standard matters here: vendors may be inspected before setting up so shoppers are buying directly from the grower, and the market frames its mix around products from farmers, gardeners, bakers, beekeepers, cooks, and artisans. In practice, that creates a lineup that leans heavily on produce and plants while still making room for bread, prepared foods, meat, honey, and a smaller craft presence.

What you'll find there

Tomatoes, corn, bedding plants, bouquets, breads, frozen meals, and USDA-inspected meat all appear in this vendor mix, with a clear emphasis on things grown or raised by the people selling them. The strongest through-line is seasonal produce, but several stands widen the shop with baked goods, pantry items, flowers, and specialty products tied to individual farms and kitchens.

• -Find assorted fruits and vegetables at A n B Produce, along with honey listed among its offerings.
• -Pick up flowers, herbs, hanging baskets, succulents, and container gardens from Country Flowers Greenhouse / Bauer Farm, which also lists lamb meat.
• -Stock the freezer from Enchilada Lady, which brings packaged frozen food and also serves hot food, eggs, pop, and water.
• -Shop Jirak Family Produce for apples, honey, vegetables, and eggs.
• -Look to L&R Farms for tomatoes, sweet corn, seasonal fruits and vegetables, pumpkins, gourds, sweet potatoes, ornamental squash, herbs, spring flowers, bedding plants, and bouquets.
• -Grab corn, tomatoes, watermelons, and peppers from Leupold Farms.
• -Browse Mackey Farms for dog treats, honey, jam, vegetables, fruit, plants, and crafts.
• -Seek out Old Ott Farms for mostly heirloom tomatoes, plus green beans, okra, cucumbers, summer squash, Asian vegetables, peas, green onions, bouquets, and plants.
• -Choose The Quilted Kookie for sourdough, sweet breads, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and other baked goods.
• -Buy home-raised USDA-inspected beef and USDA-inspected pork from 1840 Cattle Co., along with goat soap and its own seasoning.

Know before you go

The key logistical detail is the setup inside the East Hills Mall parking lot, specifically between Dillard's and Woodbine Road, which makes this more of a parking-lot market than a downtown sidewalk stop. The market runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the April-to-October season, and one visitor specifically noted that Saturdays tend to offer more items and reward earlier arrival. Dogs are not allowed, and restrooms are not available on site. If you are comparing payment expectations from stall to stall, the market does indicate clear payment methods, which can simplify planning when you're buying across produce, baked goods, meat, and prepared foods.