Farmers Market Still Going Strong 37 Years Later

By Brooke Lynn Rigsby
Middle Stew Reporter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.--  The Rutherford County Farmers Market, which is located on John R. Rice Boulevard,  offers a place to pick up locally grown produce.
             The facility has been an outlet for local farmers to sell their fresh produce since 1975. The public can visit from 1-4 p.m. on Sundays through December. Not only does this market provide healthy, homegrown alternatives to mass distributors, but it also provides a sense of community. The market is small and easy to navigate, with vendors setting up stands within inches of one another.  A band plays for the entertainment of shoppers, who are crowded around stands sampling wares.

The market hosts a plethora of vendors selling more than just produce, though fresh foods are a hit among customers. There are also vendors selling soaps, candles, carved wooden toys, and lip balm.
               Though farming may seem intimidating to many, it’s a hobby that can turn profitable. Nelson Williams turned his hobby into a business 16 years ago.           

“I had a vegetable garden and I started grilling vegetables because the vegetable garden was growing so much,” Nelson said.

Through grilling his vegetables, he began experimenting with making salsa. Twenty-two recipes later, he began finding the flavors he was looking for.  But Nelson doesn’t plan to stop there. He's already selling through more than five other stores and plans to continue to expand his business. 

            Farmers markets are also a means to reach out to customers.

            “I just sent two cases to Santa Barbara, Calif., and I’m about to send a case to Appleton, Wis., because people visited the farmers market,” said Nelson.

Whether you're interested in farming, or just supporting local farmers, the Rutherford County Farmers Market is a place families can come and enjoy the experience of shopping through a love of fresh foods. 

            Fresh fruits and breads are popular among shoppers, and though the local market may not be frequented as often as the local grocery stores, they turn enough profit to continue the tradition.  Peak selling times occur during the summer, which usually correlates with peak harvesting months, though the Rutherford County farmers market is open during the fall with special hours.

            If you’re interested in attending the Rutherford Country Farmers Market, or interested in farming yourself, contact information can be found at www.localharvest.org.

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