Local farmer’s market features the best of locally produced or grown items

Published 3:11 pm Friday, July 1, 2022

By Staff Reports

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By Angela Cutrer
The Elizabethton Star
Customers have a lot to choose from at the Elizabethton Farmer’s Market this year.
From fresh produce and fruit (picked that morning) to USDA pasture-raised meats, to artisan breads and jams, the market features the best of locally produced or grown items.
“Everything offered at our market is produced in, or adjacent to, Carter County,” said Donica Krebs, who coordinates the market. “We do not allow resale of produce from states farther south.
“It is common practice for most farmer’s markets to allow vendors to buy produce from warmer climates and re-sell it at the market to keep up appearances of abundance during times when harvests are still low at the beginning of the season. We are much less concerned with appearances than we are with quality.
“Every vegetable at the market was grown by our farmers. Every cut of meat was raised on local pastures. Every egg and jar of honey was collected within the 423 area code.”
The market is held at the Covered Bridge Park in downtown Elizabethton, an iconic, historic location in the community. Built in 1882, the bridge undoubtedly saw many horse-drawn wagon loads of fresh produce cross over the river into Elizabethton, brought in by hardworking farmers across Carter County, Krebs said. “We are honored to continue the tradition of local agriculture commerce in our historic community,” she added.
The purpose of the market is to support local farms and businesses, to supply the community with fresh healthy food and to strengthen community ties in order to secure a local food economy. “We all support each other,” Krebs said. “We are all accustomed to being able to walk into a grocery store and have our pick of produce at the drop of a hat, but most of those dollars are ending up in California or another country; we want to focus our efforts on supporting farmers that you can speak with face-to-face each week.”
The market meets Tuesdays from 4-7 p.m. every week from June through August in the Covered Bridge Park, come rain or shine. “We’re farmers, we are not afraid of the rain!” Krebs said with a laugh.

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