Market Square Farm Market gently winding down; this summer saw more vendors, but less produce

Hot, hot, hot! Peppers offered on Market Square Saturday from Musick Mountian Farm in Williamsburg, Ken.

Hot, hot, hot! Peppers offered on Market Square Saturday from Musick Mountain Farm in Williamsburg, Ken.

The Market Square Farmers’ Market is winding down for the season. Mums have been offered for several weeks now and mostly fall crops are displayed in the farmers’ booths: greens, peppers, winter squashes, gourds and pumpkins. It’s been a wonderful season. Here are some highlights from the past spring, summer and fall:

  • One of the most exciting things was Market Square Farmers’ Market coming in fifth in a national contest to name the best farmers’ market in the country. Administered by care2.com, an organization dedicated to healthy and green living, the contest awarded $5,000 to the market with the most on-line votes (Flint, Michigan’s market), $4,000 to the market that came in second (Fernandina Beach, Florida), $3,000 to the third place winner (Carrboro, North Carolina), $2,000 to the fourth place winner (Midtown Farmers’ Market in Minneapolis), and $1,000 to our own Market Square Farmers’ Market. Many, many folks deserve credit for rallying the troops to get the votes in, but I think John Craig and Art Carmichael may have worked the hardest. Congrats, guys!
  • Jack Neely’s great new book about Market Square came out, highlighting the history of everybody’s favorite gathering place, which is home for our beloved market.
  • Charlotte Tolley, who is in charge of the market, said this year saw more vendors than last: 62 this year compared to 44 last year.
  • But, due to the rainy weather, even with the extra vendors, there wasn’t as much produce.
  • And the rain kept customers away on many weekends, too, she said, so total attendance might not have surpassed last year’s.
  • The lack of extended hot dry weather hurt the tomato crops this year.
  • And bugs caused a lot of stem rot, she said.
Peppers from Mountain Meadow Farm in Anderson Co.

Peppers from Mountain Meadows Farm in Anderson Co.

Still, the extra vendors caused the market to physically expand. The city closed a block of Market Street this year to add more space. And the market attracted more non-food and prepared food vendors.

The Market Square Farmers’ Market will stay open until November 21.  After that it will be replaced by a Holiday Market for several weeks until it shuts down until the first baby greens and asparagus of spring 2010 arrive.

It’s been a wonderful addition to downtown life. We’ve shopped it almost every Saturday and even planned whole days around it when friends from the western suburbs would meet us for a magical day in the city.

Great job, everybody. Thanks so much.

Here are some links to some information about the vendors whose wares are pictured in today’s blog post: Musick Mountain Farm, Mountain Meadows Farm, A Place of the Heart Farm, Moore’s Acres, Rushy Springs Farm, Gregory’s Greenhouse Productions, Bill Lee Art.

These look like eggs, but they are gourds. Someone suggested they'd be good for kids to decorate at Easter. From Musick Mountain Farm.

These look like eggs, but they are gourds. Someone suggested they'd be good for kids to decorate at Easter. From Musick Mountain Farm.

Sunflower sprouts and butternut squash from A Place in the Heart Farm in Elk Valley, Tenn.

Sunflower sprouts and butternut squash from A Place of the Heart Farm in Elk Valley, Tenn.

Heirloom pumpkins from Moore's Acres in Washburn, Tenn.

Heirloom pumpkins from Moore's Acres in Washburn, Tenn.

Root veggies from Rushy Springs Farm in Talbott, Tenn.

Root veggies from Rushy Springs Farm in Talbott, Tenn.

Knoxville artist Bill Lee and some of his pottery. I bought a pretty butter dish.

Knoxville artist Bill Lee and some of his pottery. I bought a pretty butter dish.

Mums from Gregory's Greenhouse Productions

Mums from Gregory's Greenhouse Productions

Filed under: Art, Downtown, Knoxville. Bookmark the permalink.

6 Responses to Market Square Farm Market gently winding down; this summer saw more vendors, but less produce

  1. Patrick Beeson, on October 20th, 2009 at 9:56 am said:

    This was the first year for my wife, Lindsay Beeson aka The Plum Baker, to be on the market with Meg Parrish from Old City Java. Together they sold coffee and baked goods with increasing success.

    It certainly is an exciting time for both market entrepreneurs and existing businesses!

  2. Gay Lyons, on October 20th, 2009 at 10:32 am said:

    Going to the Farmers Market is always one of the highlights of the weekend.

  3. Allyn Purvis Schwartz, on October 20th, 2009 at 12:07 pm said:

    The Market Square Farmer’s Market is an EVENT to attend. It is wonderful with all the fresh foods, and beautiful to behold. Fun and festive … always!

  4. Cliff Thirtyacre, on January 10th, 2012 at 2:17 pm said:

    I’m considering marketing some of my cast iron cookware collection and wonder if would be a worthwhile venture at the Market Square Farmers Market. I may hit the road (Spring-Fall 2012) to offer my old cookware pieces at various flea markets, craft fairs, farmers markets, etc. Would anyone care to recommend ideas or give me encouragment in regard to selling in your area? Pleaseemail me at: [email protected] with comments.

  5. bill lee, on May 18th, 2013 at 7:14 pm said:

    I just found your site today, didn’t know that I was already here!

  6. Cynthia Moxley, on May 20th, 2013 at 8:41 pm said:

    Bill: I love your pottery. I have a butter dish of yours that we use all the time. It is blue and green. Keep waiting for you to make another butter dish in the colors of orange and yellow — our favorite Fiesta Ware colors. But whatever you do is awesome. Please keep it up.

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