Local growers, bakers and craftsmen at the Catawba Valley Farmers Market will begin the 2017 season on Thursday, May 11, just in time for Mother’s Day gift buying. The market is held both outside and inside the Catawba Community Center, 4965 Catawba Creek Road (Rt. 779), in Catawba. It is open on Thursdays through mid-October, from 3:30-7 p.m., rain or shine.
Growers have been busy this spring getting their produce ready and they expect to have cooking greens, onions, radishes, beets and other seasonal produce. Additional foods will appear as the growing season progresses. Grass-fed beef and pork sausage will again be available. Several bakers will have cookies, cakes, fried pies and breads. To round out a delicious meal, look for eggs, honey, jams, pickles and apple butter. All vendors are local, with most of the food items produced within a five-mile radius of the market.
Planting time is upon us, whether that means vegetables, herbs or flowers. Vendors will have plenty, including potted plants and bedding plants as well as numerous hanging baskets. For those looking for cut flowers already arranged in a vase, those will also be on hand.
The market will have several new craft vendors in 2017, resulting in an expanded selection of quality crafts, such as walking sticks, wood crafts, artisan soaps, goat-milk lotions and soaps, scented candles, pottery, hand-sewn items, hand-lettered canvases, note cards and signs, birdhouses and photography.
Special features for the opening day will include a free flower plant or herb and a package of sausage for each mother, free cupcakes, recipe booklets and a free shopping bag. Kathleen Reed with Virginia Cooperative Extension will have information and handouts concerning vegetable gardening. Courtney Henderson, Botetourt County dairy farmer and Virginia Tech student, will share her experiences on the family dairy farm and will be giving out coloring books and other dairy-themed freebies. Stop by the kitchen to see fried pies being made– and plan to take home a couple.
Back again to provide lively entertainment will be Lucy and Jordan, the husband-and-wife team that forms Another RoadSide Attraction, an all-acoustic band from Roanoke. Performing mostly original songs, they use an eclectic assortment of instruments.
The market vendors invite everyone to come out to the scenic Catawba Valley for fresh local foods, quality crafts, lots of freebies, music, and an-around good time. The market area is handicap accessible, has a playground, restrooms and free parking. SNAP/EBT/debit cards are welcome. EBT clients receive double the value for purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables – spend $1 and receive another $1 (up to $30).
Follow the Catawba Valley Farmers Market on Facebook for updates. Contact Ann Harrell, market manager, at 864-5913 or by email at catawbafarmersmarket@outlook.com for more information.
