Dayton: Farmers markets see business growth

DAYTON, Tenn. — Craig Butler walked along tables of yellow squash, green beans and red tomatoes, looking at freshly picked produce. Stopping in at the Dayton farmers market during a lunch break, he wanted to buy fresh vegetables.

Mr. Butler, of Lexington, Tenn., said he comes to the market every time he is in town for his job with First Bank of Tennessee.

“I think it’s more convenient and friendly,” he said last week. “I get to talk to the guy who grew it.”

Local farmers selling produce at farmers markets said they have seen some increase in business because of higher food costs and public concern about tainted tomatoes linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak. There are farmers markets in Bradley, Marion, McMinn and Rhea counties.

But in some cases, farmers said they have lost business because higher gas prices have kept out-of-state visitors away.

“People from up north come here and take our products back with them,” said Earl Harris, a Dayton farmer who has sold at the Dayton market for 10 years. “We’re not seeing them this year.”

Matt Webb, University of Tennessee agricultural extension agent for Marion County, said the market in Jasper is in its second year. At the most recent market, vendors showed up about 7:30 a.m. and were sold out by 10 a.m., he said.

“Demand is there” for fresh vegetables and fruits, he said, and the biggest problem right now is finding more vendors. He said buyers talk about higher prices at grocery stores and are reassured because they know the farmers.

“It’s their neighbor or, in some cases, it’s their relative,” he said.

Bradley County farmer Michael Brown said he has sold peppers, squash, corn and melons at the Bradley County Farmer’s Market for more than 20 years.

Mr. Brown said farmers can sell cheaper because there’s no middleman.

“Everybody’s looking at saving a dollar,” he said.

Dayton farmer Marvin Kaylor agrees. He said he started selling vegetables at the Dayton market five years ago.

Last week, his stand was piled with peaches, peppers, green beans, cucumbers and tomatoes. All of his food is locally grown except for peaches, which came from South Alabama, he said.

Some people stopped by on Thursday from Loudon and Sevier counties, he said. People come to the market and want to know where the vegetables came from, he said.

“It’s getting bigger,” Mr. Kaylor said. “Especially with this vegetable scare, this tomato scare. They know our vegetables are good. They know us.”

Johnnie Shoemake, of Dayton, came to the Dayton market for the first time Thursday. She said she would definitely be back.

“I want to get some fresh vegetables,” she said. “And it’s a lot cheaper than grocery stores.”