Farmers' Market (Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Maryville: buying, university, upkeep)

[JMT]

Dang it, I forgot to check out the new farmers' market that opened today in East Knoxville. It's in the park next to the new Target shopping center off Washington Pike. Did anyone go? They just said on WBIR that it's going to be open only on Thursdays so I'll have to wait another week to go. But I'd love to hear what it was like!

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by JMT

Dang it, I forgot to check out the new farmers' market that opened today in East Knoxville. It's in the park next to the new Target shopping center off Washington Pike. Did anyone go? They just said on WBIR that it's going to be open only on Thursday so I'll have to wait another week to go. But I'd love to hear what it was like!

I saw a clip of it on the news; it didn't look very busy. Hopefully someone on here went and can chime in.

[hiknapster]

I didn't go!

I should go to that one in Seqouyah today to make up for it.

[hiknapster]

So I went to the Seqouyah farmer's market, today.

They had a decent amount of vendors; more than they have in downtown Knoxville. Well, quality vendors, anyway.

So I found the West Wind Farms booth right away. She was really the reason that I went there. So I buy two rib eyes and they are expensive, but I expect that. I mention Tennessee tax being high, as a comment in general, and she says that technically she should not charge tax, because as a farm she is exempt and is not suppose to, but she does because she needs the money for farm upkeep. Of course, I did not know this. Ultimately, the two steaks cost just shy of $40.00.

When I got home, I see that she charged me 13 percent in tax. Legally, she cannot do this.

I want to support family farms, but this really puts a bad taste in my mouth. The steaks were fine, but they were pretty thin and only about a little more than a pound and a half. That is crazy money.

I bought about 6 tiny red onions that were still on the stalks from another guy. Very nice guy that loved to talk local politics. Great! They looked slightly larger than green onions (scallions). That was five bucks. Very good, but sheesh.

The guy from Laurel Farms was there. Once I realized this, I was sorry that I had bought from West Wind. I bought from him two years ago at the Oak Ridge farmer's market. He is not "certified" organic, but he is a decent guy with a family that eats the food. Better prices.

I bought eggs from them for $3.00. I thought that was a good deal.

I bought a spinach-feta biscuit that cost $3.00 and Lauren had a chocolate chip cookie for $1.50. The biscuit had a heavy taste of baking powder or soda. Their booth was not marked, I think. I have no idea who they were.

I fought a lot of traffic to get to this farmer's market. It doesn't open until 3 p.m. on Fridays. I didn't get there until 4 p.m. By the way, the traffic going from I-40 to I-640 East was backed up for at least a mile, probably more. I listened to the traffic report on WNOX and there was not anything unusual going on. Maybe the shutdown of I-40 still causes traffic jams.

I do wonder if certain vendors charge more because it is Sequoyah Hills or if the family farm, like everyone else, is being pinched.

I doubt that I will go back again, though. To someone driving by, it might be worth it. That 13 percent surcharge really bothered me, though. However, there was no one waiting to buy her meat. There was a line at the Laurel Farms booth. There was a woman in line talking up the eggs. I will let you know how they are after I have them for breakfast, tomorrow.

[ShellsNJam]

I did not attend the E Knox one, but heard that it was a little crazy. Vendors unsure where to set-up and that the parking was a little difficult. But, it was the first day. I am going to try to go this week and see for myself. Let you know how it goes...

13% is outrageous!

[hiknapster]

"Everybody is saying we need more farmers, we need more producers," said David Vandergriff, a University of Tennessee agricultural extension agent who is helping coordinate the New Harvest Farmers' Market, which opened Thursday at the former Farmers' Market site on Washington Pike at Interstate 640 in Northeast Knoxville.

The hardest part of his job, he said, has been drumming up growers to populate the new venture.

Farmers' markets growing in popularity, but organizers could use some help : Business : Knoxville News Sentinel

[fallfanatic]

Interesting article...thanks for the link.
Thats a good idea teaching people how they can farm on just an acre.

[htmlfamily]

Originally Posted by ShellsNJam

I did not attend the E Knox one, but heard that it was a little crazy. Vendors unsure where to set-up and that the parking was a little difficult. But, it was the first day. I am going to try to go this week and see for myself. Let you know how it goes...

13% is outrageous!

Actually it is Criminal...

[Beretta]

Hik, thanks for the posts in here. You have saved me a trip to one farmers market for sure! I bet that the one meat vendor had a tiny sign somewhere saying that there was a surcharge to be legal. Of course, like you, most people wouldn't see it (if there was one), and wouldn't discover the extra $$ charges until they were home. Thanks for the paper link as well.

[hiknapster]

My post sounds pretty petty, but I wanted to give everyone a good description.

I checked that Laurel Creek website and he charges $5 less a pound for his rib eye. The eggs were great! Huge yellow yolks.

I checked to see if she had a surcharge on the West Wind website and she did not. I don't think there was a sign. I really don't, but I could be wrong.

The Laurel Creek family goes to Oak Ridge as well as Maryville, I think. I'm buying from them from now on. The are a true farm family.

Laurel Creek Pasture Raised Meat: Beef Pork Chicken Turkey Duck Lamb Eggs