Clinton, Norris farmers’ markets opening this week
Farmers’ markets will be cranking up for the season this week in Norris and Clinton, just as the growing season begins to take root.
Clinton’s farmers market, which opened for the first time last year, will be operating from 3-6 p.m. on Thursdays this year, a change from last year, when it was held on Fridays. The location is in the city parking lot on Commerce Street.
Norris will resume its weekly farmers’ market, which has been in existence for more than a decade. It will be held from 3-6 p.m. each Wednesday. It’s again being held in front of Norris Middle School and the Norris Lions Club Pavilion.
Clinton’s market is operated by the East Tennessee Farm Association for Retail Marketing, also known as FARM, and is locally co-sponsored by Historic Downtown Clinton.
“We’re hoping to have at least a dozen vendors this week,” said Kathy Mihalczo, president of the FARM group. “We changed it to Thursday, and we think Thursday is going to be great.
“For now, we will have spring veggies, like lettuces and radishes and greens. As the growing season advances so will the variety of items offered.
“With us, everything is local, whether it’s seasonal vegetable or gourmet food. And shopping with us is supporting your neighbors and friends and our family farms. We keep our money in our own community.
“We will also be offering SNAP food benefits,” she said. “People can swipe their EBT cards for tokens to use at the market.
“Our mission is to support local agriculture,” Mihalczo said. “FARM is dedicated to helping local farmers and producers to direct-market their products to the public.”
She said the group is one of the “oldest agriculture marketing co-ops in the state of Tennessee,” having been around more than 43 years.
In Norris, the farmers’ market is led by Mindy Wells, who also operates a blueberry and egg farm on Reservoir Road in Norris.
Norris hopes to have 10 to 15 vendors for opening day, and all of them will be from the local area.
“Our market has been much more focused on small farmers and backyard farmers,” Wells has said. “People who grow blueberries in their back yards. People who have gardens, but just have too much produce, or have a couple of beehives, so they have some honey to sell. These are people who aren’t necessarily farmers, but they do have things to offer.”