You may have noticed that the farmers market is accepting applications for a manager, an assistant manager and a demonstration chef but, it is also the time of year to turn in your vendor applications. Perhaps you have wondered if the Union County Farmers Market is the place for you – we think you’ll agree that it is!
10 Reasons to join the Union County Farmers Market
1) We are growing. Every year since we opened in 2011, we have had more vendors, more customers and greater sales. This past year our sales increased by almost 45%. We reach customers not only in Union County but in surrounding areas like Blaine, Corryton, Halls, Karns, Powell, Tazewell, Washburn and more.
2) We will have two markets. Our Tuesday market will run from 3pm-6pm and our Saturday market will remain 10am-1pm.
3) We will have an on-line market. Our new website is up and running and can be found here: https://www.unioncofarmersmarket.com/. It will have a link to the on-line market. This market is easy to join and there are no additional fees during our trial period.
4) We will have a new location and pavilion to use. Our county has been so supportive of the market! They are opening a new park – Heritage Park – and we will be using the new pavilion for both our Tuesday and Saturday markets.
5) We are consistent. We have been operating for ten seasons and will be beginning our eleventh. It doesn’t matter if it is hot, cold, or rainy. If we are supposed to be open, we are there. We have had some of the same vendors, management, and loyal customers since we opened in 2011.
6) We are there to help you with marketing. We have an advertising budget to attract customers. We also help by sharing your Facebook posts and keeping the market Facebook and Instagram sites active.
7) We are there to help you learn more. We provide education for our vendors. Access to workshops and advice on anything from farming and grants, to marketing and booth display.
8) We are there to help you get started. We even have supplies to help new and beginning vendors. One of our goals is to provide assistance to our producers to help them get started. Maybe you need a table, a tent, some signage, let’s work together!
9) We have exceptionally low costs. Right now, our $10 application fee covers the entire season. You are also expected to pay a very nominal 4% of your total sales, rounded down, at the end of each market – you’ll not find a better deal at any other established market. We value our youths, and the market has a reputation for helping youth vendors and young entrepreneurs get off on the right foot. The vendor fees are often waived to help them establish their business.
10) It’s fun! We have a family friendly atmosphere and vendors treat each other like family. They help each other like good neighbors ought to. Maybe you have questions, need advice from someone more experienced, or maybe you just need help getting that tent up! Once the market opens, you’ll see friends from the community, and you’ll feel good about being able to help them have access to the freshest, locally grown and produced products available. If you have a friend in need, you can advise them to use their SNAP benefits at the market and let them know about the Double-Up program. If they have children, let them know about children’s programming like Nourish Kids, which has Farm Market bucks for children to learn about budgeting, and the importance of fresh produce. If they don’t know what to do with all the fresh produce, they can visit with our brand new demonstration chef, vendors, and UT Extension for ideas.
If that is not enough, take a moment to consider how much you value rural East Tennessee. Growth and development are both necessary and important, and our rural landscape helps fuel this movement. In order to keep our rural landscape, rural roots, and the values that go along with it, we, as a community need to make agricultural lifestyles sustainable. Our youths need to look upon their family’s history in agriculture with pride, and look forward to careers in the multi-faceted world of agriculture. Small farms are becoming even more important as we look at the sustainability of agriculture and food security.
Join us, have a hand in sustaining farms and rural landscapes, providing food security for our area, and watching our counties grow and develop in a focused fashion! Applications are available on the website, or by email at bbergero@utk.edu. You can also call the UT Extension office (865-992-8038), and then stop in for a copy. Remember, not all applicants have farm products. We also accept crafts, small businesses, board vetted bakers, and value added products like salsa, pickles, maple syrup, etc. that are produced following the State of TN regulations. We’ll even have a commercial kitchen available for entreprenuers very soon!