Let’s Go to the Farmer’s Market
This is my favorite time of year when those wonderful fresh vegetables are at their juicy best and are popping up at the farmer’s market. If you don’t have a green thumb (in other words, you could kill an artificial plant), the nice thing about living in the country is access to farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. There are roadside stands on back roads and at flea markets and almost every town of any size has a farmer’s market one day a week.
Farmer’s markets have been around as long as people have settled communities and towns across the world. Market Day was an exciting event, giving families from miles around the opportunity to buy or barter for fresh foods and staples along with almost any kind of household needs. Most importantly, it was a very social occasion with the opportunity to catch up on the news and connect with friends and family in those days before social media, telephones, and television.
Local Markets
The Temple Farmer’s Market just started up last year and is already a hit. Matt Gailey, owner-operator of Dirt Free Farm, made it his mission to get the market up and going and you won’t find a better cheerleader for the farm-to-table movement. The market is open 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Saturdays from May to November (weather permitting) at 155 Sage Street, featuring delicious, fresh produce, meats, jams and jellies. Pecan Acres Homestead is there every week with eggs, goats milk products and more.
We are lucky here in Temple to not only have our own Farmer’s Market but also others, as we say, “right over yonder”. Cotton Mill Farmer’s Market in Carrollton, GA has been around for a long time, providing locally grown and produced products. One of the best features of Cotton Mill is the Power of Produce (POP) Club for kids aged 4-12. Tanner Health System sponsors the club and runs educational games and demonstrations so kids get to learn about the local farm system and fruits and veggies they might not have tasted before, because, well, kids and vegetables don’t always mix well. Best of all, they receive vouchers good for any market vendor so they can shop and take home their favorites. Cotton Mill, at 609 Dixie Street in Carrollton, is open on Saturdays year-round from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (weather permitting).
Dallas Farmer’s Market in Dallas, GA not only has fresh produce and locally produced products but also lots of great little arts and crafts items. This is a good-sized market so plan enough time to see everything and don’t miss taking a gander at the great new mural a bunch of folks helped paint on the wall there. You can pick up a homemade sausage biscuit and wander the stalls while chatting with some of the friendliest people around. NOBODY leaves empty-handed with all the great stuff there. The Market is open every Saturday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, April through October.
So, get on out of bed Saturday and head out to your local market. If you don’t know where it is, check out the locator at Local Harvest or ask around. If you see me, make sure you say hey!
