Opening Day for the Catawba Valley Farmers Market (CVFM) is May 9, the Thursday before Mother’s Day. This begins the 10th year of CVFM vendors providing locally grown meats, fruits and vegetables, home-baked goods and handmade crafts for area consumers.
Submitted Photo
Local vendors will have wonderful gift ideas for Mother’s Day shopping – many hanging baskets plus potted plants and bedding plants for the garden. You’ll find grass-fed beef, sausage and bacon, spring produce, eggs, breads and desserts, including fried apple pies, pickles and jams and kettle corn. The Bower family from Fincastle has hanging baskets and garden plants.
New to the market is Buford’s BBQ, from New Castle. Buford will offer pulled pork BBQ, hot dogs, sides and beverages, for on-site enjoyment or to go.
If you’re looking for that special non-food gift, such as something in the arts and craft line, choose from pottery, sewn items (purses, table runners, place mats, aprons, quilts and more), copper kettles and other vessels, jewelry, wooden crafts, wreaths, primitive signs and decorative items, bird houses and feeders, barnwood-framed photography and notecards.
Some vendors will offer discounts or “special deals” to celebrate the 10th year of the market. A basket of “From Virginia” items, such as wines, craft beers, handmade soaps and candles, as well as a $100 Homeplace Restaurant gift certificate and Virginia lottery tickets, has been donated by a market supporter. Tickets will be sold until June 6 when the winning ticket will be drawn.
The Catawba Valley Farmers Market is located under the picnic shelter at Catawba Community Center, 4965 Catawba Creek Road (Rt. 779), just off Rt. 311 in Catawba. The market is open every Thursday, from 3:30 to 7 p.m., from May 9 to mid-October, rain or shine. This site is a Roanoke County Park, with playground for the kids and indoor restrooms. The market is handicap-accessible, with plenty of free parking and beautiful farm and mountain scenery.
To keep up-to-date on happenings at the farmers market, to view a list of vendors, to see a weekly listing of available items and more, check out the website – catawbafarmersmarket.com and follow the Catawba Valley Farmers Market on Facebook. The page includes a weekly newsletter during the market season, news of special events and many photos. For more information, contact Ann Harrell, market manager, at 864-5913 or send an e-mail to: catawbafarmersmarket@outlook.
