Summer has just begun and so has the demand for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Luckily, local cities have started their farmers markets, which support fresh produce and local growers. What is better than a refreshing tomato sandwich or ripe watermelon in this heat?
Some local produce includes tomatoes, plums, squash, green beans, peaches, bell peppers, banana peppers and potatoes. Farmers markets also offer locally made goods such as honey, lotions and soaps.
Amber Bennet sells jams and jellies, syrups, goats milk soaps, lotions and body butters and fresh eggs at the Gadsden Farmers’ Market.
The cities of Attalla, Gadsden, Glencoe and Rainbow City all provide a farmers market during the week.
Attalla provides a market on Thursday from 2 – 4 p.m. off of Highway 431 beside the new Jack’s restaurant.
Gadsden hosts a market on Fridays from 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the new Fifth Street Market located at the corner of 5th and Locust Street.
Gadsden’s Fifth Street Market’s ribbon cutting was held on June 3 at First Friday. The Fifth Street Market will be home to the farmers’ market on Friday mornings, but the city is also looking to expand the use of the space to other types of markets.
Gadsden’s Fifth Street Market opened on June 10, 2016. This will be the home of the Gadsden Farmers’ Market and other markets that the city hopes to draw in to the Downtown area.
Rainbow City hosts a market two days a week, Monday and Wednesday from 1-5 p.m. in the parking lot of the City Municipal Building off of Highway 411.
Glencoe hosts a market on Thursdays from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. in front of Glencoe City Hall.
Many farmers and local growers set up at multiple markets.
Farmers from Chandler Mountain and Lookout Mountain participate in the markets, such as local farmer Richard Singleton from the Noccalula area.
“I’ve been growing vegetables all my life and been selling them for about 30 years,” said Singleton. “I don’t use pesticides either.”
The local markets are scheduled to last until the end of the summer. So if you are planning a 4th of July cookout, you know where to find fresh local produce at great prices.
For more information, contact Rainbow City, Gadsden, Glencoe or Attalla city halls.