Bryan Lowe, left, looks on as his son, Bradley Lowe, 14, cleans off a cucumber at the Lowe’s Family Farm booth at the Brainerd Farmers Market. Chattanooga is home to a number of different Farmers Markets scattered all across the city.Gaining Ground, a Benwood Foundation initiative to support local food, is running an online recipe contest through August aimed at encouraging cooks to share their best recipes using local corn.
The organization’s Facebook fans will be able to vote for their favorite recipe, with the winner receiving a gift certificate to the Brainerd Farmers Market. The contest is part of the “Right Here, Right Now” campaign, which focuses on seasonality and celebrates Chattanooga’s best flavors.
Manager Chris Casanova says the Brainerd Farmers Market is busier this summer, with new customers seeking out seasonal produce.
“When customers come to our market, they see what’s in season and start to eat according to availability,” Casanova says.
In addition to fresh produce, customers also can find cooking demonstrations, samples and farmer-inspired recipe cards.