Farmers Market Gears Up For 2014 Season
Dandridge Farmers Market, February 20, 2014
Staff Photo by Robin McMahon
The Dandridge Farmers Market Meeting was hosted on Thursday, February 20 2014, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the UT Extension office in Dandridge. Guest speaker Anthony Carver, a representative from the Grainger Co. Extension office, spoke of the importance of Food Safety. The food safety standards for small farmers are currently being revised by the Department of Agriculture: the new standards are not yet official, but Mr. Carver did hint in the directions that the dept was going in, allowing local farmers to prepare, as food safety is still a large responsibility of the farmer, as well as the consumer. Water sources were discussed, as well as how to care for produce from the field to the market and how to inform consumers to clean, store, and prepare produce to limit bacterial contact. Traceability was also brought to the attention of vendors, allowing consumers and farmers to be able to trace the source of the food or product to the original source, such as seed, plant location, etc.
The group approved opening day of the farmers market as Saturday, May 24 from 9:00 – 12:00. The market will run through October, depending on the weather. Anyone wanting to be a vendor in the market can contact office@mainstreetdandridge.com for an application: a onetime Membership fee of $25 to the Dandridge Community Trust Membership is required and payable in advance. The membership is not required for the community non-profit organizations, such as youth groups, humane society, etc. All booths pay $7 per day and vendors assume all liability for any products sold at the market and are encouraged to discuss insurance options with a licensed specialist. All vendors must be approved by the director and must abide by all Tennessee Department of Agriculture rules and regulation.
For consumers, the market is looking to have a larger variety of vendors and products than before. The market supports sustainability, and consumers are encouraged to bring their own bags in which to carry their purchases. Due to food safety standards and public health risk, pets will no longer be allowed at the market. There is also a strict no smoking policy. This year’s farmers market will again be held in the parking lot of the downtown district.
The most impactful news came late in the meeting: the market has been working on finding a property that will work for the approved grant that would allow for a pavilion to be built as a permanent home for the farmers market. At the last meeting, there were plans to access the dike area in hopes of putting the market’s home lakeside, but after contacting TVA and measurements were taken, the space would not be large enough to support the building, as well as having no additional space should an expansion be necessary in the future. The new proposed site is behind the post office, just one block from the current location. Concerns were voiced about the lack of visibility from the highway with the new site, but the general consensus was that with enough signs and online marketing, consumers should still be able to easily access the market. This new site would also allow for closer parking and space to expand in the future, if necessary.
The new site has not been officially approved, and still needs approval of the city council. The council will be meeting before the work session on March 4 at 6 pm. At the last meeting there were no citizens representing or speaking in favor of the market. In order for this pavilion be to be approved by the city council, citizens must inform their council members by contacting them or attending the meeting to voice their desire to have a permanent home for the Dandridge Farmers Market. The building plans must have a rough draft submitted by March 15 in order to receive the grant.
