Karen Kistler

karen.kistler@salisburypost.com

 

SALISBURY — A new season is beginning at the Salisbury Farmers Market at Railwalk Pavilion and there will be lots taking place including some new features.

Opening day is set for Saturday, April 19, and the market will run through December from 8 a.m. to noon at 228 E. Kerr St., Salisbury, with vendors participating throughout the year offering a variety of goods ranging from fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, pastries, bread, coffee, flowers and crafts, which have been included in the market this year as regular attendees with some coming every week rather than monthly as they were last year.

Leigh Anne Powlas, the market manager, noted that there will be a total of 42 approved vendors, which will fluctuate throughout the year. The main ones, she said, “are typically every week, produce, meat, bakers, honey, are weekly but the craft vendors get to choose what weeks they come.”

The number of vendors taking part this year is up from last year, she said.

New this year will be a kid’s club, which she said she found from the Farmers Market Coalition. Called the Power of Produce or POP Club, it is, she said, “one of their things to encourage kids to eat healthy foods, fruits and vegetables.”

From information provided about the club, it “looks to transform your kids into market participants with educational activities, demonstrations, interactions with their local food growers and challenges to try fresh market produce.”

Sign-ups for the kid’s club and sharing of information will be offered on the first and second farmers markets with the official first day of the club beginning on May 3. 

Returning to the market will be its Donation Station.

This was available last season, Powlas said, and was hosted by the Rowan County Cooperative Extension.

The station, she said, “is where market goers can purchase additional produce and donate it at the Donation Station and then it is donated from there to Meals on Wheels.”

Powlas estimated that approximately 900 pounds of produce were donated last year through this program. 

The Donation Station will be at the Salisbury Rowan Farmers Market on the first Saturday of the month to accept donations. The first date that it will be available is May 3.

The use of SNAP/EBT at the market will also be available again this year. Items that can be purchased include fruits and vegetables, meat, fish and eggs, dairy products, baked goods, honey, jellies and jams. 

Powlas noted that people should visit the table at the market that tells about double bucks that will be offered at various time during the season.

Throughout the year, there will be demonstrations offered, taste testings, special story times for children with the Farm Bureau, a variety of fun and fitness activities among them yoga, dancing and hula hooping, craft times, special days such as Strawberry Day, Corn Day, Honey Bee Day, Apple Day and others, along with some fun holiday events.

Those interested in receiving a farmers market newsletter may do so by messaging on Facebook, emailing to info@salisburyfarmersmarket.net and requesting it or by signing up at the market. The newsletter comes out weekly, Powlas said, and will include information which vendors will be coming and the items they will be bringing to the market plus the events that will be taking place such as Kid’s Club, special market participants that will be attending and live music, which will be on opening day and then the first Saturday of each month.

“If you don’t have plans on a Saturday morning,” Powlas said, “we’re a great option for produce, fruits, baked goods, honey, crafts and events and entertainment for kids and families. Come see us at the market.”