We love having families at the Union County Farmers Market so bring your children and/or grandchildren on Saturdays! We always have something fun for all ages. Check out the activities at the UT Extension booth as well as those offered by some of the vendors.
Farmers markets provide social interaction for your children; having them spend time with other people of all generations is a great way to help them grow. The farmers, master gardeners, bakers, chefs, food producers, artists and craftsman are some of the most hardworking, kind people you will meet. They are usually very passionate about the products they produce and the food they grow/harvest. They are often very willing to talk to you about their processes, experiences and backgrounds. Kids are naturally curious. Encourage them to ask questions—after all, producing food is pretty amazing!
Farmers markets are a great place for family bonding. Spending time together as a family is always important. The market is a great atmosphere for your family to connect, have fun goofing around and create memories together. Taste something new, create something, enjoy the family walks—it’s easy to enjoy each other’s company when you are doing something healthy and fun!
Farmers markets teach children about shopping. Children ages 2-12 that register in our Nourish Kids program will receive $5 of Produce Bucks to spend on fresh, healthy produce on the third Saturday of each month. Buying their own food is a great learning experience. Learning to shop wisely and consider all the options is a great skill to have.
Children will generally eat what they purchase and you know the fresh produce from the market is good for them! Kids purchased lots of peas, broccoli, strawberries and greens with the Produce Bucks they earned in May.
Farmers markets introduce your children to fresh produce and often that produce is something they have never tried before. If you register and attend our Nourish Kids program on the third Saturday of each month, they will actually get to taste fresh, uncooked produce. In May, children tasted fresh sugar snap peas and discovered they were great! They also learned to follow a recipe and cooked some sugar snap peas – yum!
Children may also learn about proper nutrition, gardening, care for our environment and more through fun activities at the market. The first Saturday in June, UT Extension will be celebrating National Pollinators Month with fun activities for kids and resources for adults.
June is also National Dairy Month so you can look forward to learning more about dairy products, dairy cows (Bessie will even make a surprise visit!), and dairy tastings throughout the month. The third Saturday of each month is always our Nourish Kids Day and we will be learning more about the secrets of seeds, dirt and plants, as well as tasting some fresh produce, earning those Produce Bucks, and maybe even creating a card for Dad—after all, it will be Fathers Day!
Families are also encouraged to participate in “Walk the Market,” our walking program where they will learn about the benefits of physical activity. In June we’ll be celebrating Great Outdoors month with some fun walks for the entire family.
The market slogan has always been “Where Our Community Meets.” What a wonderful opportunity to teach our children the importance of community. Supporting local keeps the money in our community where it can be reinvested for the good of the town. Buying local promotes a sense of pride in your hometown as well as allowing our children to see how valuable it is to connect with others within their community.
Exploring the farmers market with your children is an activity everyone will enjoy. Come ‘hangout’, enjoy the company of friends, discover new foods and meet your community!
Open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, under the pavilion at the new Heritage Park. For more information regarding programs at the market, please contact UT Extension Union County. 865-992-8038 or bbergero@utk.edu.