Farmer’s Market: Her shawls have you covered

Special to the Green Valley News

Watch Pepper Freye selling her scarves at the Green Valley Farmer’s Market and you’ll see her attract customers with the practiced discipline of a professional. “I’ll show you real fast how this expands your wardrobe,” you’ll hear her say.

That’s the truth too. Her garments are made of silk velvet and it’s amazing to see her demonstrate their versatility.

“It’s a five-way shawl! I have a mirror — you can play. If you have trouble I’ll show you,” she offers the passersby. With her air of fun and showmanship she demonstrates on herself while verbally outlining the features for anyone close enough to listen.

Her dramatic demonstration includes a fun pose for each style. First, it is around her neck as a pleasant scarf, suddenly half the scarf appears to drop away and it becomes a shawl.

“This is for all those air-conditioned restaurants,” she says to customers who are beginning to gather for her show.

She gives the scarf-turned-shawl a twist and declares it to be a poncho. Customers stare as they murmur, “Sure thing — it really is a poncho now and her outfit does look different.”

They’re hooked now. By the time she changes it into a cape and what she calls a toga (which is actually quite a sophisticated look) she has them asking questions.

She’s answered them all, but new people slip in part way though her presentation. She stresses how the shawl will expand an existing wardrobe, putting life back into the tried and true pieces her customers already own. She lets people know that this piece that retails between $35 and $40 will become their most valuable wardrobe item. “You’re going to get a lot of compliments and this will last forever,” she adds confidently.

Meanwhile, a couple of potential buyers huddle on the other side of a rack of scarves, admiring them. “They really are versatile,” one woman says quietly to her companion as she fingers the soft scarves. “What do you think about this for graduation?” the other queries. “Uh-huh. A good Mother’s Day thing too ... what do you think?”

It seems Pepper will add three more sales to her daily tally.

Pepper comes from her home in Tubac to sell at the Green Valley Farmer’s Market. “How long have I been doing this? Well ... forever!” she laughs. “At least 12 years doing the velvet itself.”

Pepper and the other vendors at our lively market in the Green Valley Village sell their wares every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Now that the weather is heating up, the market hours will be earlier, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning May 29. The warm weather also increases the variety of local vegetables and fruit at the market’s greengrocers. In addition to them you’ll find people who make and market unusual things in a wide array of fields.

When residents and visitors commit to “Shop the Market First” they’re supporting our local economy as well as helping themselves with fresh and unique items.

If you go

Green Valley Farmer’s Market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday at the Green Valley Village, Esperanza Boulevard and La Canada Drive.