Story by Jackie McCrief

The Las Cruces Farmer’s and Crafts Market is held twice a week at the Downtown Mall, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. It offers something for everyone: handcrafted pottery, freshly grown produce, chile pepper angel ornaments or homemade biscochitos.

How they got started

Dave Coca, who sells Dead Betty aromatherapy products, has had a table at the market for 10 years. He got started selling incense and oils when he befriended a Jamaican man in California who sold them on  the beach.

Just a few of the glass products by Chris Boehmer. (Photo by Jacqueline McCrief)fornia who sold them on the beach.

“It was a real hit, everybody loved it,” Coca said.

Coca also operates a Web site where customers can have products shipped to them.

“My business is my way to relax,” Coca said.

Chris Boehmer, who sells blown glass products, has had a table at the market for one year. He was always interested in art and took up glassblowing as a hobby.

“You can do anything with glass. It’s very lucrative,” Boehmer said.

Business Outlook

Coca feels that people will always shell out a few more dollars for something unique. On his website, he makes gift baskets with oils, incense and a holder. At the market, his incense sells 12 for $1.

“It’s a comfort. People want to go out and buy stuff even if it’s small,” Coca said.

Coca plans to re-open his store on Picacho this month, where he takes requests for special items – mostly wine glasses and pipes.

He also urges everyone to come out and experience the market.

Boehmer says the glass market here is “not huge.” On the side, he runs a horseshoeing business specializing in horses with hoof problems.

“In San Diego, I would sell everything that I set out. It’s slowly getting better here,” the artist concludes.