Main Street Market’s 10th birthday party
Main Street Farmers Market is turning 10 and taking the party to the street.On Wednesday, Aug. 7, the market will move from its regular site along Main Street onto Chestnut Street for an afternoon block party from 3:30-6 p.m., co-sponsored by Chattanooga Brewing. The celebration celebrates the market’s decade as well as National Farmers Market Week.That Wednesday only, shoppers will find the market in front of Chattanooga Brewing, 1804 Chestnut St., with live music, a kids booth, guest vendors and food trucks. Any visitor age 21 or older making a purchase at the market will receive a free pint on Chattanooga Brewing.Visit the market info booth to make a $10 donation to the nonprofit and receive a limited-edition, reusable Main Street Market tote, while supplies last.For more information: mainstfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
When Chattanooga Market launched in 2001, there were less than 3,000 such gathering spots in the United States for direct farm-to-consumer sales. That number has grown to 8,768 farmers markets as of this year, according to the Farmers Market Coalition.
Chattanooga Market will celebrate the nearly 500 vendors and artists who sell their products during market season on Sunday, Aug. 4, in First Tennessee Pavilion, in observance of National Farmers Market Week.
National Farmers Market Week is Sunday-Saturday, Aug. 4-10. Always the first week of August, National Farmers Market Week is timed to coincide with when local produce is reaching its peak. The observance is a great chance to thank a farmer and show you value what markets bring to their communities in terms of social, economic and healthier lifestyles.
Think about it: Farmers markets preserve farmland, stimulate local economies, increase the public's access to nutritious food and promote sustainability.
The National Farmers Market Coalition released these reasons why farmers markets are needed.
* The U.S. loses an acre of farmland a minute to development.
* Locally owned retailers, such as farmers markets, return more than three times as much of their sales to the local economy compared to chain competitors.
* Of vendors selling in these markets, 25 percent derive their sole source of income from the market; 50 percent derive at least half their income from market sales.
* Farmers markets are conducive to social interaction. People who shop at farmers markets have 15-20 social interactions per visit, compared to one or two per visit at the grocery.
* Markets offer increased access to fresh food: $24 million in SNAP benefits (food stamps) were spent at farmers markets in 2018. That's fresh food for low-income Americans and increased income for local farmers.
* 60% of farmers market shoppers in low-income neighborhoods report that their market had better prices than the grocery.
Following you'll find a list of area farmers markets:
BATTLEFIELD FARMERS MARKET - Agricultural Building at the Walker County Civic Center, Highway 27, Rock Spring, Georgia. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays. localharvest.org/battlefield-farmers-market-M13373
BRAINERD FARMERS MARKET - Grace Episcopal Church, corner of Belvoir Avenue and Brainerd Road. 10 a.m.-noon. Saturdays. 423-698-0330.
CATOOSA FARMERS MARKET - 220 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Georgia. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. 706-891-4199.
CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO- Station Street at Market Street. 6-9 p.m. first Thursday of each month through October. lookoutfarmersmarket.com.
CHATTANOOGA MARKET - First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. chattanoogamarket.com.
CHATTANOOGA MARKET AT ERLANGER - Erlanger Medical Mall, 975 E. Third St. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fridays. chattanoogamarket.com.
CHATTANOOGA RIVER MARKET - Tennessee Aquarium Plaza, 1 Broad St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. chattanoogamarket.com.
CHI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - 2525 de Sales Ave., Building B. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays. lookoutfarmersmarket.com.
CHI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN HIXSON - 3905 Hamill Road. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. second Tuesday of each month. lookoutfarmersmarket.com.
COLLEGEDALE MARKET - Collegedale Commons, 4950 Swinyar Drive, Collegedale, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays, 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays during summer months. 423-664-3022.
EAST BRAINERD FARMERS MARKET - Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road, 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays. lookoutfarmersmarket.com.
MAIN STREET MARKET - Corner of Main and Chestnut streets. 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays. mainstfarmersmarket.com.
MARKET AT THE MILL - The Old Woolen Mill, 445 Church St. SE, Cleveland, Tennessee. 3-6 p.m. Thursdays. 423-479-1000.
OOLTEWAH FARMERS MARKET - Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., 5829 Main St., Ooltewah. No wholesalers or resellers allowed. 3-6 p.m. Thursdays. 423-238-9775.
RED BANK FARMERS MARKET - Red Bank United Methodist Church, 3800 Dayton Blvd. 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays. lookoutfarmersmarket.com.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN FARMERS MARKET - McCoy Farm & Gardens, 1604 Taft Highway. 3:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays. 423-902-8028.
SODDY-DAISY FARMERS MARKET - Poe's Tavern Historical Park by Soddy-Daisy City Hall, 9835 Dayton Pike. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays until October. 423-332-5323.
ST. ALBAN'S HIXSON MARKET - St. Alban's Church, 7514 Hixson Pike. 10 a.m.- noon. Saturdays. 423-842-1342.
- Compiled by staff writer Susan Pierce