China Grove Farmers Market

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 29, 2011

By Joanne Johnson
For The Salisbury Post
Last Friday, Walter Goodman had a very interesting display at the Market at the Mill. Goodman, a lifelong farmer in China Grove had 200 acres with 80 acres in corn and 50 acres in soy beans. They also grew lima beans, potatoes, green beans, tomatoes and watermelons. This display was on an old Ford Tractor with lots of pictures of other farm equipment.
Walters Family Farm was on hand with no-pesticide, non-chemically fertilized veggies, including beets, green beans, Swiss chard, cukes, yellow and patty pan squash and a light colored zucchini squash said to be lemony flavored.
Bailey’s Farm had squash, onions, cukes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, watermelons, and cantaloupe.
Karriker Farms had shelled pecans and black walnuts, peaches, squash, cukes, tomatoes, onions and potatoes.
Miller and Sons had a trailer of corn and people waiting in line to buy it. They also had offered tomatoes, green beans, okra, yellow and zucchini squash, cukes, cabbage, watermelon and cantaloupe.
Besides produce, shoppers could buy canned chow chow, pickles, peach cobbler, pound cake, filled oatmeal cookies, cream horns, fresh potato chips, sourdough,marble rye, wheat and soft oatmeal breads, chicken salad, pimento cheese and whoopee cakes.
T D Charolais offered no antibiotic, no growth hormone, beef and pork, plus meaty soup bones and dog bones.
Tranquility Farms had beautiful large hanging baskets as well as honey and blackberries.
Everyone was treated to watermelon by Alan Goodman, market manager.
Market at the Mill takes place 4-7 p.m. Fridays in downtown China Grove.
JoAnne Johnson is a Master Gardner volunteer.