Farmers markets report successful season opening
Heather Howell of Halls waits on a customer who’s buying some of her Possum Fairy Gourmet Preserves during last Wednesday’s opening day at the Norris Farmers Market. She offers unique flavors such as Zucchini Bread Jam and Pineapple & Pepper Jam. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
The Norris market, in front of Norris Middle School, operates from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, while the Clinton market, in the downtown Commerce Street parking lot behind the old Hammer’s store, operates from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.
“Ours went really well,” said Mindy Wells, coordinator of the Norris market. “We had several vendors who closed out last year with us to come back for our first market this year, and we’re expecting more to show up this Wednesday.
“We had hydroponic lettuce, sugar snap peas, kale, beets, carrots, Swiss chard and herbs; homemade bread, jams and jellies; eggs; and crafts, such as macrame, greeting cards, soaps, and woodworking items,” she said.
“As the season progresses, we will get more vegetables and other produce. When potatoes, tomatoes and berries come in, there will be a lot more vendors. We have some with eggs and other items coming this Wednesday,” Wells said.
She said she plans to put up a menu on the Norris Farmers Market Facebook page each Wednesday morning to show what will be available at that week’s market.
At the Clinton FARM Market on Thursday, there were 15 vendors, said coordinator Kathy Mihalczo, president of the East Tennessee Farm Association for Retail Marketing, also known as FARM.
“We are expecting a couple more this week,” she said. “Last week, it was early in the season in terms of produce, but we will have more this Thursday. I would expect more veggies, as spring vegetables are coming in.”
Among last week’s offerings at the Clinton market were “asparagus, spring greens, baked goods, plants, hummus, homemade cards, jewelry, two vendors selling beautiful tomato plants, aromatherapy products, beautiful macrame, and three farmers selling meats,” Mihalczo said. .
“We appreciate the community support,” she said. “We need vendors and customers to make it work. We do have the SNAP benefit program and the Double Up food bucks; people can just swipe their EBT cards for tokens to spend at the market.”
The Clinton market moved to Thursdays this year, after its initial season last year operating on Friday afternoons.
Norris moved its market to Wednesday afternoons last year, after operating for several years on Thursdays. The city of Norris helps coordinate the market there.