Watauga County Farmers' Market

This Saturday, August 9, the folks at Watauga County Farmers' Market will be celebrating Garlic and Tomato Day with music from the Produce Pickers and our first ever Homegrown Tomato Contest. The contest is open to everyone. Bragging rights and gift certificates will be awarded to the top candidate in each of the four categories: biggest, prettiest, ugliest and tastiest. Remember to sign up early for judging at 9am. We would like to thank Todd Wright, Cullie Tarleton and Nancy Spann for agreeing to serve as judges for this event, and Joe Martin of Zydeco Moon Farm for getting it all organized.

Heirloom varieties of tomatoes are difficult to find in stores because they do not ship well, but the superior taste makes them a great farmers' market find. Ask the growers about their favorite variety, you will find many choices including Mexican Pink, Ultimate Opener, and Cherokee Purple. Jeff Thomas is among the farmers who will have cherry tomatoes ready for harvest this weekend along with Blue Lake Stringless beans and Swiss chard. Green Bean devotees will be able to find their favorite varieties this weekend, choose from William Edmisten's Eagle Beans, Kenneth Oliver's Early Contenders, Blue Lakes or Top Crop among others.

Sue Thomas will have more blueberries along with pickling cucumbers, beets, carrots, broccoli, kale, spinach and free range brown and white happy hen eggs. You will see plenty of local peaches this time of year, early apple varieties, and squash of every kind and color.

Sheila Eldreth has added all natural soy pillar candles to her inventory, and candles in various yummy scents including passion fruit and guava.

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be open on Wednesday mornings through September 10 at the same location as on Saturday mornings, the Horn in the West in Boone. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 for more information. We will be there rain or shine!