Farmers Market season has arrived

Left: From young to old, there’s something for just about everyone at the Farmers Market. Kyler Hopkins enjoys this flower. Right: Harrison Ferry Mountain farmer Charles Stanley sells Fayetteville-grown sweet potatoes until his crops come in.

‘People come to the Farmers Market because they can buy their vegetables instead of growing them,’ said Cantrell, who is the Farmers Market manager.

This early in the season, there’s not an abundance of vegetables. The juicy tomatoes and mouth-watering corn will have to wait until later in the year.

But it’s the perfect time for fresh-grown greens and Skymont resident Evelyn Collins had plenty to sell Saturday.

‘It’s healthy to eat the kind of food that’s grown here,’ said Collins. ‘It’s good people growing good food. We just love coming here for the fresh produce, the plants, the roses, just all of the pretty green stuff.’

Local producer J.B. Brown, who is known for his lettuce and tomatoes that are grown with hydroponics, says this year has gotten off to probably the best start in his time as a Farmers Market merchant.

In April, the market is open on Saturdays only. In May, hours expand to include Wednesday mornings. In June, hours will expand even more to include Friday afternoons.

‘Usually the first Saturday it’s cold as anything and you’d have two or three vendors up here,’ said Brown. ‘But we got a great start this year from the very first Saturday morning with a good crowd and several vendors up here and it’s gotten better every week.

‘Today’s crowd has been the best yet,’ said Brown last Saturday. ‘I’ve already sold about 80 heads of lettuce.’

Local resident Diane Bond is a master gardener who enjoys doing her shopping at the Farmers Market.

‘In the summer, I buy my vegetables up here,’ said Bond. ‘This time of year I love the selection of flowers.’

Harrison Ferry farmer Charles Stanley has been a Farmers Market vendor for 10 years. Despite working a relatively small amount of land, about five acres, he’s still able to produce a number of crops. But for now, until his harvest time comes, he’s been selling sweet potatoes he purchased from a Lincoln County farmer.

‘This is something I do to pass the time until my stuff comes in,’ said Stanley, referring to the sweet potatoes. ‘I grow tomatoes, corn, okra, peppers, cucumbers. Later in the summer is my time. In July is when the tomatoes start coming in.’

Farmers Market vendors will begin setting up this Saturday around 6 a.m. for their next day of business. J.B. Brown says he’s expecting the crowds to arrive early.

‘Some customers are here waiting while we set up,’ said Brown.