Farmers markets in the Chattanooga area don’t completely die out in winter. While most go dormant, a few persevere with limited offerings such as bread, meat and cheese. Still, the arrival of spring brings the promise of proliferation. Farmers markets start popping up as the first crops go in the ground. Expect their popularity to increase as the growing season progresses.
“People seem to be wanting to find locally sourced food,” says Nancy Rucker, Hamilton County director of University of Tennessee/Tennessee State University Extension.
Part of the interest stems from the trend toward self-sufficiency wrought by supply-chain shortages and the home cocooning that led consumers to cook more and can more during the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than that “is the economics of it all,” Rucker says.
“I think the issue of trying to stretch our food dollar is key right now,” she says. “We’re still eating out. You can go anywhere any day of the week and places are still crowded. But I think there’s probably a greater number of people looking to stretch their food dollars. Most farmers markets have reasonable prices for fresh fruits and vegetables that can be prepared at home.”