Late Season Leads to Loaded Farmers Markets Across State
NASHVILLE – After a late start, Tennessee farmers markets are making up for lost time. A cool, rainy spring has resulted in truckloads of local produce ready for harvest, not in an orderly procession, but a regular rush hour traffic jam of fruits and vegetables.
Pick Tennessee Products, the state’s “buy local” promotion for farm direct products, will host special media days to celebrate the growing season at two locations in the coming week. On July 27, the event will take place at the Union County Farmers Market in conjunction with their market’s corn festival. On July 31, Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson and Deputy Commissioner Jai Templeton will be on hand for a Pick Tennessee Products media day at the Ripley Downtown Farmers Market.
Visitors who attend a farmers market media day can take home free Pick Tennessee Products recipe cards and have the chance to win a basket of artisan and other popular foods from Tennessee.
Who: All Media are invited and should arrive by 9 a.m. local time. Local officials are also encouraged to attend. Media will have the opportunity to interview farmers and officials in attendance and will receive a “goody bag” including digital images and information about local foods and farms. For more information, contact TDA marketing specialist Pamela Bartholomew at Pamela.Bartholomew@tn.gov or 615-837-5348 in advance of event.
When & Where:
Saturday, July 27: Union County Farmers Market (Corn Festival)
Shannon Perrin, UT Extension Agent
3925 Maynardville HWY
Maynardville, TN 37807
Phone: 865-992-8038
Wednesday, July 31: Ripley Downtown Farmers Market
Frankie McCord, Executive Director
134 N. Jefferson St., Suite 3
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: 731-635-0008 or 731-413-1089
E-mail: developripley@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.ripleytenn.com