LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Kali Bradford
The popularity of buying fresh produce at local farmers’ markets, while supporting local businesses and growers, has actually continued to rise and shows no sign of slowing this summer.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), a survey was taken from 1,400 farmers’ markets managers nationwide. The survey showed that farmers’ markets continue to grow and serve as popular community gathering places.
Gary Farris, left, with Shelly Road Produce, talks with a market customer at the Tullahoma Food Fair. Farris has actually been with the food fair for four years and said he enjoys the interaction with the community and selling fresh produce and plants each week. -Staff Photos by Kali Bradford
“There are over 8,400 farmers’ markets in USDA’s National Farmers’ Market Directory, and this survey shows they are thriving and expanding as they provide healthy, local fresh fruit and vegetables to America’s families,” said USDA AMS Administrator Anne L. Alonzo. “The survey will help market managers continue to succeed by giving them a better understanding of the local foods marketplace.”
The survey identified the markets’ victory as due to farmers and local growers meeting customers’ demands, access to nutritional assistance programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), offering quality and fresh produce, investing more in community engagement and also increasing their online presence by using web and/or mobile-based technologies to communicate with customers, vendors and their communities.
Community Market
Locally, Ellen Fletcher is returning for her fourth year with the Community Market in Manchester.
Fletcher began the market four years ago with the hopes of creating a community for locally grown and crafted products.
“Although it is our fourth market season, I feel like it’s our second,” she said. “This is our second on the courthouse lawn. Over the last two years we had to move due to construction. However, we’ve had a dedicated group that has actually followed us everywhere for which we are grateful. We are glad to get back to where everything began.”
No matter the market’s location, Fletcher said the mission has actually remained the same.
“Our mission since the beginning was to create a common place for local growers, craft makers and small businesses alike to sell products and promote services, therefore encouraging
A 2014 survey conducted by the USDA found that farmers’ markets continue to grow and serve as popular community gathering places. The survey identified the markets’ successes due farmers and local growers meeting customers’ demands, access to nutritional assistance programs, quality and fresh produce, more community engagement and an increased online presence.
sustainability and strengthening the local economy and community morale,” said Fletcher.
She said operating the market has actually offered quite the learning experience.
“When I started I said I was going to commit to three years and then go from there,” said Fletcher. “While there have been some frustrations throughout the first three years, there has actually also been a huge learning curve. I’m committed to it, and coming into this fourth year is making those first challenging three years totally worth it. Because I feel like this season is going to be great.”
Vendors
Fletcher said for the 2016 market season vendors will be offering everything from locally raised beef, vegetables and fruits to handcrafted items from local artisans.
“We’ve got more vendors than we’ve ever had,” she said. “Vendors such as Weaver Farms will have pork and beef and will also have corn,” she said. “We have another beef vendor named Pacman Ranch. Jeff Holt is returning. He’s got the seasonal produce that everyone enjoys, including cabbage, berries of all kinds and more. T.J. Hansen is back with honey. René Holt will have her homemade goodies that brings numerous folks out. We will also have local artisans, as well. We want folks to know that all of our products are local. It’s a wide array of locally grown and hand-crafted products.
Market Info
The Community Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday on the courthouse lawn in Manchester.
Tullahoma Food Fair
The USDA states that because of how often farmers’ markets feature produce and food that is grown both naturally and organically, the taste quality is superior to other outlets. Farmers who sell their pro-duce at farmers’ markets are able to retain the nutritional content of their products by picking their produce at the very peak of its flavor.
A long-standing local favorite, the Tullahoma Food Fair is open for business and welcoming growers and vendors of all kinds.
“We are excited to be open to the public again. While gardens are a little late this year due to the rain, we fully anticipate a season of great produce to offer to our customers,” said Kelly Prince, a Tullahoma Food Fair member.
Local grower Lucy Deal has actually been with the market since 2004. Deal said she enjoys sharing the fruits of her labor with the community.
“We have a half-acre garden,” said Deal. “It’s more than we can eat, so we bring it up here. Right now I have lettuce, onions and radishes. There will be more vegetables as the season progresses. I also bake a little, so I have fresh-baked bread and homemade jam for sale. I like having fresh vegetables and knowing where they come from and I feel the community wants the same thing.”
A member of the food fair for almost two decades, local grower Wilma Kane offers vegetables such as Napa cabbage, bok choy, onions and strawberries.
“The crop has actually been good so far and we anticipate a good growing season. I really enjoy this time of the year and also enjoy providing fresh produce to the community,” she said.
Market Info
The Tullahoma Food Fair will be open from 6 to 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday through October at Trinity Lutheran Church, located at the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Cedar Lane.
Local Farmers Markets
The following is a list of several farmers’ and community markets in the Middle Tennessee area. For a complete list of markets located in the Volunteer State, visit http://ift.tt/1dPuIzF.
Cannon County
Cannon County Farmers’ Market is open each Saturday at 6 a.m. at the Arts Center of Cannon County in Woodbury.
Coffee County
Coffee County Farmers’ Market is open each Saturday April-October at 1331 McArthur St. in Manchester.
Franklin County
Cumberland Farmers’ Market, Sewanee Community Center in Sewanee. For more information, visit http://ift.tt/1WLyG8i
Southern Middle Tennessee Farmers’ Market of Franklin County is open each Saturday at 7 a.m., through October at the site of the Old Franklin County High School on Dinah Shore Boulevard.
Grundy County
Grundy County/Tracy City Farmers’ Market is open 2 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon off US 41 14399 in Tracy City.
Lincoln County
Ardmore Farmers’ Market in Ardmore is located on a city lot, north edge of Highway 53, behind Pizza Hut.
The market is open from late April through late October on Saturdays from sunrise to 1 p.m.
Moore County
Lynchburg Farmers’ Market, Moorehead Pavilion, Wiseman Park in Lynchburg. Open Fridays 3 to 6 p.m. May-October.
Rutherford County
Main Street Saturday Market of Murfreesboro, Public Square of Murfreesboro. Open Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until noon June through October.
Rutherford County Farmers’ Market, Lane Agri-Park Community Center in Murfreesboro. Open May through October from 7 a.m. until noon every Tuesday and Friday morning.
Warren County
Warren County Farmers’ Market, city parking lot behind Main Street in McMinnville. Open until mid-November each Wednesday and Saturday morning.
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