St. Louis Welcomes Fall with Best of Missouri Market

The Show-Me State showed its finest with record number of vendors.

By Mada Brielmaier | October 8, 2019

ST. LOUIS- The three-day, Best of Missouri Market featuring more than 130 vendors celebrated Missouri’s outstanding gourmet food, wine, herbs, spices, clothing, art, and artisan products.

From locally sourced produce to delicious organic apple butter, Best of Missouri Market displayed the largest number of vendors in the event’s history.

"Ozark Forest Mushrooms" featured at the Best of Missouri Market

Weaving through a maze of tents filled with an extensive display of regional tastes: it was a foodie’s dream. Customers circled artisans to try homemade dips, local brews, and enjoy the atmosphere of smells and smiles.

Andrea Schnitzler of The Berry Nutty Farm and Granola Jones has been selling her award-winning fruit spreads for at Best of Missouri for nine years, reeling in the customers at the market.

“This is our favorite event to come to every year, it supports our stores in Kansas City,” Schnitzler said.

The Berry Nutty Farm provided a lavish display of their all-natural products including their famous apple butter, traditional jam spreads, and new granola features.

As a long-time vendor, Schnitzler knows the market game for vendors and how exciting it is to be invited back year after year.

Schnitzler’s advice to new sellers: “Knowing your market and product scale is the most important, and having a good, solid product.”

The Berry Nutty Farm products are located at stores across Missouri and you can find their extensive list of retailers here.

Above- Vendor Andrea Schnitzler of "The Berry Nutty Farm"

The event, now in its 28th year, featured an array of artisan-made jewelry, art, clothing, baskets, soaps and homemade products. Also, the festival had a Kid’s Corner where kids decorated pumpkins and fed barnyard animals. The market attracted consumers of all ages to enjoy what Missouri has to offer.

Saint Louis University student Katherine Doyle, 20, attended the event to support local businesses.

“They are usually family-run or run by a small group of people who get a lot of their business at these markets and I think it’s great to be able to support them at events like this.”

Many vendors gain exposure to St. Louis consumers by coming from various parts of Missouri. This market allows a flow of new customers online, in store, and exposure to city customers.

“I was surprised about how many different vendors were present. There was food, wine, purses, art, just all sorts of things I wasn’t expecting to find” said Doyle.

Best of Missouri market, a signature event for Missouri Botanical Garden, occurs once a year to celebrate local businesses across Missouri. To learn more, check out the Missouri Botanical Garden Program Book and find ways to get involved at Best of Missouri 2020 here.