The 2020 season at the Union County Farmers Market will be an exciting one, as changes are in the air. Not only does the market look a little different as everyone tries to follow public safety guidelines during this pandemic, there will be other changes in 2020.
First, the market location will be changing. Wilson Park and the adjacent Union County High School parking area have served the market well since 2016.
The market has grown each year, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank both the county and the school system for allowing the use of this area.
The market will move just to the south side of the high school. You may have wondered why there were trees cut on the property adjacent the UCHS greenhouse. Perhaps you have driven down Durham Dr. and noticed the bulldozing and grading of the property. All of this has been in preparation for a new county park and our new market location!
“The school system has also been very cooperative,” reports Mayor Bailey, as a gate will be placed in the fence by the high school, and the school system will generously allow parking at the high school with entrance through the gate.
When the market moves to the new location, everyone will see a big change. Individual vendor tents will no longer be necessary as the county is erecting a multipurpose pavilion. County commissioner and chair of the Industrial Recruitment Committee, Danny Cooke, hopes this will become a gathering spot.
According to Cooke, the pavilion and park will be available for festivals, tractor shows, political rallies, trade shows and more. He sees families and children using the tree-studded park area, and envisions the possible addition of a livestock ring.
One of the goals of this area will be “to keep the youth of Union County involved in both their community and agriculture. Agriculture has always been an important part of Union County and we’d like this tradition to continue,” says Cooke.
It is wonderful when the goals of several agencies all align! Mr. Cooke also hopes it will become “the busiest spot in Maynardville.’’ We hope so too.
The construction supplies are onsite and, depending on weather, rain and mud, they hope to erect the pavilion in the next couple of weeks. Then of course, there will be all the finishing details. The market hopes to make the move to the new location sometime in July. Stayed tuned for updates.
Another exciting farmers market change will be an additional market day. As soon as the summer vegetables begin arriving, the market will be open on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Market location: the Horace Maynard Middle School gravel parking lot that is right on Highway 33.
Tony Mowery, vice president of the Farmers Market Board and owner of Ropes and Wings Ranch, states, “This is a great plan. When our produce is really coming in, it cannot wait a whole week between pickings. Our vendors need a mid-week market and our customers deserve the freshest produce possible, so this should be perfect. We’d also like to have a food truck at each market so folks can pick up a snack or dinner.”
We are also looking forward to the addition of the Nourish Kids program. Nourish Knox has graciously included the Union County Farmers Market in a grant funded by the State of Tennessee to fund the exciting, new Nourish Kids program.
It will begin with Nourish Kids take home boxes. These boxes will include activities, produce samples, and Farm Market Bucks, which can be spent on fresh produce or food-producing plants at the market. Children do not have to be present as their parents may register and take home the kits.
The vendors are looking forward to the “club” part of the Nourish Kids program resuming when it is deemed safe to encourage kids to gather in groups.
We are excited about the upcoming changes and hope you will stay tuned for updates. Follow the market on Facebook or receive weekly updates through the newsletter. For more information, please contact bbergeron@utk.edu.