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Our Farm Sheds are Changing! 

For the past several years we have been reaching out and listening to local farmers and our customers to guide our work; planning and implementing changes at our downtown market to once again have farmers as a main component of our daily offerings.           

Our goals are to support our region's farms by connecting consumers directly to local food producers and supporting multiple outlets at the Market for farmers to be successful.

With these goals in mind, we have restructured our farm sheds to help customers find more variety of local foods and ensure that area farmers are able to compete for spaces at the Market.

Beginning in April our two farm sheds will be divided into a Direct Sales area and a Resale area. Our new Direct Sales area is reserved for local farmers and artisan food producers and is located in the north end of both farm sheds. The Resale area, located in both sheds on the south ends, is reserved for local, independently owned retail operators that bring fresh, local and imported produce and plants to the Farmers' Market everyday. This area provides an important outlet for local farmers to sell their products everyday and still be able to concentrate their time on farming.

Already the farm sheds are filling up with reservations from new farmers, as well as the farmers and vendors you look forward to every year.

We hope you like the new changes in our farm sheds and welcome your feedback! 

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Farm to School bill making its way through state legislature.

HB3158 is a new initiative that encourages Tennessee schools to buy directly from Tennessee farmers by asking schools to report yearly on what they are going to do to procure food in their county or region, and  what they are doing to make the bidding process flexible so small farmers can bid on a portion of the school's nutrition package rather than the whole thing.

 

The Farm to School Legislation yesterday passed the Tennessee House Education Committee and a calendar date will be set soon for its consideration by the entire Tennessee House and sponsored by Rep. Mike Harrison. The legislation passed the Senate Education Committee and full Senate without opposition. You can follow the progress on the bill, including video streaming of proceedings, at the website http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/ 

 

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Plant season begins at the Market!

The first signs of spring are at the market as plant farmers and vendors roll into the market this week. Take advantage of the warm weather to spend some time outdoors, get your hands dirty and bring some color to your porch, patio or garden. Visit Farm Shed #2 for the first of springs selection of ferns, cool weather blooming plants and tropicals.