The Signal Mountain Farmers Market is transitioning from its winter hours to its main-season hours of 4-6 p.m. Thursday, March 22, and is holding a special spring celebration that day to mark the occasion.
The event will feature a mushroom log inoculation demo, and a raffle will be held to give away the log at the end of the day. Each time attendees make purchases from market vendors that day, their name will be entered into the raffle for another chance to win.
“It’s a great thing for someone to walk away with from our celebration,” said new market manager Rachel Gray, adding that she’s seen mushroom logs for sale at prices between $40 and $60.
While mushroom logs sometimes take up to a year to fruit, they typically produce mushrooms for about four to five years, she said.
Gray, a Signal Mountain resident who also serves as the education and volunteer coordinator for Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga, was recently hired to work part time as manager of the market. She is the first to be employed in the position, taking over for volunteer Teresa Garland who continues to serve on the market’s board. The job was becoming too much for a volunteer to handle, Gray said, and the board wanted to grow the market and improve its exposure in the community.
The market’s spring celebration will also include a live performance by bluegrass and old-time musician Chris Hall, who will have CDs on sale at the event.
“It will be nice to have more of a festival atmosphere with the live music,” said Gray, who will be manning the Signal Mountain Farmers Market booth and giving out free samples of a frittata she plans to make using fresh produce from market vendors.
A spring thumbprint art project will also be organized for kiddos, she said.
“I think it will be a great way to be an active member of the Signal Mountain community,” Gray said of the event. “It allows people to be involved in the local agricultural economy and encourages folks to eat healthfully. So much of our current food system is hidden from view. To know where your food comes from is a really valuable thing.”
Signal Mountain Farmers Market is held in the parking lot of Pruett’s Signal Mountain Market, at 1210 Taft Highway, each Thursday from 4-6 p.m. For more information, visit signalmountainfarmersmarket.com.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.