Andrews – Downtown is preparing for the second season of its weekly Farmers Market, which begins Friday at a new location in the old A&P Parking Lot.
Started last year by Carol McElroy of Fairfarren Farm and Pam Smith of Feisty Ranch Farm, the market is looking forward to expanding as its second season begins. McElroy, who will be managing the market this year, said they already have 10 vendors.
“We listened to our customers and vendors last year, and worked this year to provide some of the things we surveyed them for last year,” she said. “The different day and time will help us reach a larger base of the community.”
While Smith has stepped back from her managing duties to enjoy a bit of retirement this year, she will continue as a vendor bringing her popular sourdough breads and other farm fresh products, such as eggs and baked goods. McElroy said while the 2024 season was a good one, especially considering it was a slower tourism year, the group learned important lessons.
“While we had good crowds on some Saturdays, we also learned that competing with other markets at the same times wasn’t quite the fit for us,” she said. “So we decided to offer this year’s market on Fridays from noon until 4 p.m. so people can pop in and pick up what they need for fresh meals over the weekend.”
McElroy emphasized that you don’t need to be a full-size agricultural outfit to participate because “we’re also looking to be a pull-up market where backyard gardeners and hobby farms can pull up and sell their excess produce, and not have to commit to a full season of Fridays.”
She said that commitment may keep some vendors from signing up for that full season. To accommodate those who want to participate when they can, the market is offering spaces on an as-needed basis this season.
“We’re incorporating the old and the new this year to accommodate everyone, both vendors and customers,” McElroy said. “Our goal is to meet everyone where they are and to serve those requests throughout the season.”
One of those vendors who will benefit from this as-can-attend basis is Lori Seaborg of Smoky Blue Appalachia. Because of a new job outside the homestead, she’ll be able to come when she’s able on Fridays to offer her farm’s native and beneficial plants and salves made from comfrey and other herbs.
“While I may not be at every market, which is sometimes overwhelming during the long season while trying to work around the farm as well, I do look forward to being able to come on those Fridays I can manage it,” she said.
This year will also see the return of Megan Lambert with Garnet Gals jams and jellies, along with several other new vendors, offering a variety of products and produce from fresh-cut flowers to native plants and all-natural bath products.
New vendors include Golden Herbals, which specializes in small-batch herbal baby, body and skin care made from all-natural ingredients.
McElroy said the market is excited to have members of the Andrews Young Entrepreneur Market present this year.
“We’ve worked with them to provide space for the kids involved to, according to their objectives, ‘Learn about running a small business firsthand’ while also giving them opportunity for a weekly presence in the community,” she said.
Too, the market is looking forward to holding special events, McElroy said.
“We’re going to have one special event per month and start with ‘Seeds and Sprouts,’ which will offer seed swapping and plant starts to get the gardening season started right,” she said.
“We know here in western North Carolina, hardly anyone plants before Mother’s Day or around May 10 traditionally, so we’re looking forward to offering folks a chance to get their starts in so that they can grow for the market if they want to.”
Other events this year will include a Chick & Egg Day and a Halloween celebration to coincide with this year’s Trunk or Treat.
Lambert, who also is a food advocate with the Cherokee-Clay Food Alliance, recently worked with FernCrest Winery to host a seed and plant swap to get a head start on this year’s season. McElroy said that would have impact as well on the events hosted by the market this year.
“We’re working with the CCFA as well to help educate our local gardeners and farmers, and to facilitate cooperation between farmers and other farmers as well as the backyard gardeners to help grow our food resources,” she said.
McElroy added that she and Lambert have been working to utilize the market this year to help fill food gaps created after Hurricane Helene. Some people weren’t able to access fresh food whether from the grocery stores because of internet outages, along with the obstacles that inhibited people from either attending local food banks or impeded those banks’ ability to receive donations.
“We want to educate and equip people with the knowledge to grow their own food again. We’ve lost that in certain generations and we want to bring that back, especially in this area where many people were used to growing and preserving their own foods,” she said. “We want to both fill gaps and teach people they can fill their food needs with some simple skills that bring great reward.”
The reward from McElroy’s farm comes in a cherry tree orchard, chickens which provide her family and customers with fresh “rainbow” eggs and fresh seasonal produce which this year is to include pumpkins as well as seasonal homestead crafts. She said they are offering heirloom turkey poults as well as rabbits for meat along with quail.
The market offers 10-foot by 10-foot spaces. Spaces are first-come, first-served for set-ups. Vendors must supply all their own set-up equipment, including tents and tables.
Vendors may apply by contacting McElroy online via her farm’s Facebook page or their Facebook page or by email at andrewsfarmersmarket@gmail.com
Details: Visit facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558394051243 and facebook.com/fairfarrenfarms.