Norris opens farmers market
Clinton’s set to begin May 18
Bobbi Jo Henderson, left, and Emily Morgan staff the Henderson Farms booth at the Norris Farmers Market on opening day, Wednesday, May 3, as a shopper looks over their products — including freeze-dried candies. (photo:G Chambers Williams III )
Norris’s market continues this year with the same day, time and location as last year – from 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays in front of Norris Middle School.
But the Clinton FARM Market will move to a new time and location this year, although it still will be held on Thursdays.
For the 2023 growing season, the Clinton market is moving to Lakefront Park, near the new Clinch River bridge off Charles G. Seivers Boulevard. It will operate from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For the past two years, the Clinton market had been held in the Commerce Street parking lot downtown.
It’s still operated by the East Tennessee Farm Association for Retail Marketing, also known as FARM.
Kathy Mihalczo, president of the East Tennessee Farm Association for Retail Marketing, or FARM, which sponsors the market, said that construction work underway at the Commerce Street location prompted the group to find a new location this year.
“We’re glad to be back in Clinton,” she said. “We had to move the market because of work being done in the downtown area, and we moved it to mornings because it’s a little bit cooler.
“We invite everyone from the nearby doctors’ offices, courthouse and car dealership to come and shop on their lunch hours,” she said. “And we will be there every week, rain or shine.”
She said “plenty of vendors” have signed up already, and as before, everything sold at the Clinton market will have been produced by the people who are selling it.
“We will have farmers, bakers, gourmet food producers, artisans, and plant people,” said Mihalczo, who operates the Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm in the Marlow community.
“Everything is locally grown, locally made,” she said. “There is no buying and re-selling. Everything is sold by the people who make it. The farmer is standing there selling what he grew.
“All of our baked goods and gourmet foods are produced in health-certified, inspected commercial kitchens,” Mihalczo said.
“Everybody is excited about the new time and location,” she said.
“SNAP-EBT benefits will be available again this year,” she added. “We’re glad to be back in Clinton.”
Both markets are expected to run until late September or early October, depending on vendor participation.
