Bradley County Farmers Market North to open in April

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Officials have announced that Cleveland's newest farmers market, located in northern Bradley County, will open in late April.

On Monday, Farmers Market North Committee members announced that the Urbane Road market would open April 19 and have a grand opening April 21.

The market's managing committee also finalized proposed ground rules for vendor regulations and the site's operating season and hours. The rules and regulations will become official once reviewed and approved by the Bradley County attorney and County Commission, said Commissioner Robert Rominger, the committee's chairman.

The market will open Monday through Saturday, sunrise to sunset, according to proposed regulations. Vendors will be allowed to arrive an hour prior to opening and may leave as late as an hour after closing. The 2012 season ends on Nov. 30.

Vendors must submit application, including a $25 season fee, to the market's managing committee; however, the committee is considering the option to let vendors set up free on a first-come first-serve basis on grand opening day.

"If they [the vendors] can see what they're getting into," the more likely they will want to sign up for a season, said committee member Jeff Shadden.

It would be a great opportunity to give prospective vendors a taste of the market and to put applications in their hands, said Louie Alford, chairman of the County Commission.

Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog

Accepted vendors will be allowed to sell their produce in areas measuring 11 feet by 11 feet, according to a draft of the market's proposed regulations.

The market committee recommended placing vendor applications at Bradley County's Parks and Recreation Department offices on Peerless Road.

The market will be open to sellers from Bradley County and adjoining Tennessee counties. Any produce not grown in Bradley County must have accompanying signage stating where it was grown. These conditions are in addition to any required by county, state or federal regulations.

Farmers Market North will be Bradley County's third produce market, joining the Peerless Road Farmers Market, which has operated for nearly 40 years, and the MainStreet Cleveland market.

Although the Urbane market is located on the grounds of the Bradley County Recreational Complex, it will not be managed by the county's Parks and Recreation Department, according to officials.

Parks and Recreation support would be limited to maintaining the grounds, said Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis in previous statements.

Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events