By Carolyn Peterson

Salisbury-Rowan Farmers Market

The last day of the 2017 Salisbury-Rowan Farmers Market season lands just when the Christmas shopping season reaches its height. And there’s every reason to make the market a stop on Saturday.

First, at the Kids Shop, children ages 12 and younger can shop for their parents free of charge (donations accepted and exceptions apply), sample free Cheerwine Holiday Punch, and visit the many craft and local food vendors who offer an assortment of gift choices to complete their lists. Many vendors are offering discounts.

At the Bell Tower nearby, Santa and the Grinch will make an appearance, along with antique firetrucks at 11 a.m.

The market is across from Rowan Library at 270 W. Fisher St. and is open 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Hollie Hutchens, a vendor and coordinator at the market, listed her goals for the year: “Serve local farmers/crafters and utilize the market as a place to better connect with our local community. It was important to me to showcase local farmers, bakers/crafters, one-of-a-kind artists and diversely talented musicians.

“Being fortunate enough to have the support from the downtown district, we were able to set up every Saturday across from the library, prime real estate for establishing those connections. This has enabled us to create strong relationships between citizens of the county and citizens in the neighborhoods across the street,” she said.

“Our common bonds of supporting local has changed the face of the market for the better. I like to think of the market as a destination, a one-stop shop. I make it a part of my weekly grocery shopping routine and find it to be such a welcoming atmosphere to share with visiting friends and family,” Hutchens said.

“Being fortunate to sell my chemical-free poultry, eggs and seasonal vegetables directly to the consumers at this market, I have established a regular customer base. However, due to all of the new and exciting events at the market, it has been so nice to welcome all the new faces. We look forward to the opportunity so sell our products here next year.”

The market saw growth. Six new resident vendors opened: Sweet Potato Jewelry, Yadkin Path Montessori, Inland Point Seafood, McGillin’s Fruitcake, Rosie’s Wreaths and Off Grid in Color.

There are more than 15 resident seasonal vendors. Almost every penny spent at this market with local vendors goes directly back into Rowan County. This money supports local food sources, parents, children, businesses, farmers, bakers, families and friends in so many ways.

The market has more than 15 visiting vendors/food trucks throughout the season, including those offering local honey, handmade jewelry by local artists, antique/restored remodeled radios, hand forged metal works, wooden items, N.C. Transportation Museum, Salisbury Symphony Orchestra and Carolina Antique Power Association, promoting the Country Life Museum, to name just a few.

More than six local musicians provided weekly entertainment. Local favorites C.J. Peters and Sue McHugh became regulars.

The Farmers Market reached out to local media to advertise, using the Salisbury Post and local television through Fibrant. Social media such as Instagram and Facebook also kept customers informed. The Facebook page has followers from Australia to downtown Salisbury and everywhere in between. Followers have increased by more than 500, now close to 3,400.

Support for local nonprofit groups remains a high priority for the market. Prevent Child Abuse Rowan, Harmony Farm Animal Rescue, Rowan Helping Ministries, Hope Supply Co. Disaster Relief Drive, Bread Riot (local food advocacy group) Rowan County Quilters Guild, Dog P.A.W.S. and Friends of the Rowan County Shelter were all represented.

Bread Riot and the Farmers Market continued to support each other in 2017. Bread Riot initiatives such as Share the Harvest, a program of giving fresh produce and local food to families and organizations, were successful using the vendors to supply donations.

Market vendors also supply produce and goods through Bread Riot’s CSA program, Winter Harvest. The CSA runs from October through March. The mission of Bread Riot is to promote and support local farmers and producers through programs, education and scholarships. For more information about Bread Riot, go to breadriot.org.

A special feature of the market is that EBT/WIC vouchers and senior citizen vouchers that are supplied by the Health Department are accepted by many vendors for seasonal produce. Many farmers offer custom CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs, seasonal favorites from western North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida are also offered and, of course, local products are available through the extended market season (April-December).

Events were planned for children such as the Children’s Garden and Kindness Rocks (rocks painted with encouraging words). The N.I.C.E. Truck from Salisbury Police Department provided free popsicles, antique tractor climbing and school uniform collection. Disaster relief collections and winter clothing collections were common.

During the election for new Salisbury City Council candidates, 11 of the 13 candidates for office came to shake hands and talk with constituents. It was a casual meet-and-greet just before the election.

Next year the Farmers Market looks forward to cooking demonstrations, music performances, tractor climbing, visits from Salisbury’s finest and following along as a new park rises from the parking lot.

The market vendors were excited to see so much new interest for 2018 at the recent annual meeting. It was the largest meeting held in years. The market welcomed three new board members. Plans to hold the annual meeting earlier than usual will allow the vendors and board to establish more family-friendly events, new vendors and the ability to establish community connections in the beginning of next season.

For more information or to send comments, go to salisburyfarmersmarket.com. You can find the market on Facebook at Salisbury/Rowan Farmers’ Market.