By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Area grocers say both regular customers and visitors from other towns are eager to buy products produced close to home.

Catherine Weems, co-owner of Peabody Market, said one of the most popular local items at her store is Graze N Layz eggs.

“They are from Peabody,” Weems said. “I don’t get a whole lot of comment about most things, but the Graze N Layz eggs are very popular. I get a lot of comments on them.”

She also carries local produce in season, Pfannestiel Meats that come from Emporia, and State Fair Kettle Corn from Burlingame.

“I think people appreciate things that are grown locally,” Weems said.

Homegrown tomatoes are always popular, she said.

“At the moment those are probably the only items I have that are local,” Weems said.

Dale Franz, owner of Dale’s Supermarket in Hillsboro, said the store’s top-selling local item is its own homemade sausage.

Dale’s offers country German, bratwurst, and cheddar jalapeno bratwurst.

“The regular sausage we sell, we sell about 1,100 pounds a week,” Franz said. “We ship all over the nation. People have tried it and want it and we ship it to them.”

The store also stocks Barkman honey and Rhubarb Market roasted coffee, both from Hillsboro businesses, Wiebe cheese from Durham, three local brands of peppernuts, Granny’s Mustard, Knackie’s barbecue sauce, Jirak produce, Hildabrand Farms milk from Junction City, and Cackleberry Farms eggs from Lincolnville.

“A lot of people who come into town are really interested,” Franz said. “We have people ask, ‘What’s from around here, what’s local?’ ”

Greg Carlson, co-owner of Carlsons’ Grocery, said the Jirak Brothers Produce items he stocks during harvest season are top sellers.

“That’s huge in the summertime,” Carlson said.

So is Granny’s Mustard from Hillsboro.

At Carlsons’ customers can find Vinduska honey from Marion, milk from Hildabrand Dairy at Junction City, and Wiebe cheese from Durham.

During the holiday season, Carlsons’ stocks locally made peppernuts.