Utah farmers celebrate $16 million in direct sales

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Pony rides and chasing bubbles at The Monster Bubbles booth at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm were both popular, Sunday, August 3, 2014. Sunday was the kickoff of National Farmers Market Week.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Toby Hardin, 7, had his photo made by his father inside the classic "American Gothic" painting depicting a farmer and his wife, Sunday, August 3, 2014. The family was visiting the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, on the day that National Farmer's Market Week kicked off.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rebecca Ireland with her son Keegan, 15 months, enjoys the bubble-making of Arnold Berg at his Monster Bubbles booth at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, Sunday, August 3, 2014.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Kicking off National Farmers Market Week, Utah's Commissioner of Agriculture, LuAnn Adams visited the Grammy's Fruit and Produce booth as she joined vendors to discuss the importance of farmers markets in Utah at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, Sunday, August 3, 2014.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rebecca Ireland with her son Keegan, 15 months, enjoys the bubble-making of Arnold Berg with others at his Monster Bubbles booth at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, Sunday, August 3, 2014.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Some visitors to the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, put their faces into the classic "American Gothic" painting depicting a farmer and his wife, Sunday, August 3, 2014.

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Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Pony rides and chasing bubbles at The Monster Bubbles booth at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm were both popular, Sunday, August 3, 2014. Sunday was the kickoff of National Farmers Market Week. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Pony rides and chasing bubbles at The Monster Bubbles booth at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm were both popular, Sunday, August 3, 2014. Sunday was the kickoff of National Farmers Market Week. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Toby Hardin, 7, had his photo made by his father inside the classic "American Gothic" painting depicting a farmer and his wife, Sunday, August 3, 2014. The family was visiting the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, on the day that National Farmer's Market Week kicked off. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Rebecca Ireland with her son Keegan, 15 months, enjoys the bubble-making of Arnold Berg at his Monster Bubbles booth at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, Sunday, August 3, 2014. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Kicking off National Farmers Market Week, Utah's Commissioner of Agriculture, LuAnn Adams visited the Grammy's Fruit and Produce booth as she joined vendors to discuss the importance of farmers markets in Utah at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, Sunday, August 3, 2014. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Pony rides and chasing bubbles at The Monster Bubbles booth at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm were both popular, Sunday, August 3, 2014. Sunday was the kickoff of National Farmers Market Week. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Rebecca Ireland with her son Keegan, 15 months, enjoys the bubble-making of Arnold Berg with others at his Monster Bubbles booth at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, Sunday, August 3, 2014. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Some visitors to the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm, put their faces into the classic "American Gothic" painting depicting a farmer and his wife, Sunday, August 3, 2014.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· August 3, 2014 6:57 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah officials and agricultural vendors kicked off National Farmers Market Week on Sunday at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm.

Sunday's fun included pony rides for kids, a selfie contest and live farm animals along with 130 food and product vendors displaying their goods.

Utah has 45 farmers markets and in 2012, Utahns spent nearly $16 million in direct sales from more than 1,800 Utah farmers and ranchers, according to a state Department of Agriculture and Food news release.