• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News
  • Subscribe

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Indoor Winter Farmers’ Market opens Saturday

Posted at 9:01 am December 4, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Farmer Tracy Monday of Enlightenment Acres is pictured at Winter Farmers Market in Oak Ridge in 2018. (Submitted photo)

More than 30 farmers, bakers, and artisan crafters are moving indoors Saturday, December 4, for the sixth season of the Winter Farmers’ Market, which will be open Saturdays through March from 9 a.m. to noon.

The market is located in the gym at St. Mary’s School at 323 Vermont Avenue in Oak Ridge. Customers may shop in person or choose curbside pickup or home delivery through the Market-To-Go program.

“The Winter Farmers’ Market brings local food and local folks together in a unique and fun way, with great food, live music, cooking demonstrations, free kids’ activities, artisan crafts, and more, indoors all winter,” said Rebecca Williams, director of Grow Oak Ridge, the local nonprofit that produces the market.

“We have two ways to shop again this year: in-person and online through Market-To-Go.”

The market offers an abundance of locally grown cool season produce like kale, spinach, lettuce, and gourmet mushrooms, and even some winter strawberries and tomatoes, a press release said. It also carries free-range eggs, pasture-raised meats, tilapia, local honey, artisan breads, pastries, unique handmade bath and body products, and handmade gifts from local artisans.

The Winter Farmers’ Market is open Saturday mornings through March, except for the holidays on December 25 and January 1.

Nourish Kids Club is free at the market for ages 2 to 12. Children receive a veggie tasting, a fun activity, and $5 in Produce Bucks to spend at the market. Nourish Kids Club is sponsored this year by local businesses and the Y-12 Gives Foundation.

“Last year we distributed more than $4,000 in Produce Bucks to children in the Nourish Kids Club,” Williams said. “More than 79% of parents said their children were more likely to eat fruits and vegetables after trying them at the Winter Farmers’ Market.”

The Winter Farmers Market is pictured above in St. Mary’s Gym in December 2020. (Submitted photo)

Returning farm vendors include Zavels Family Farm, Gooseberry Knoll Farm, Spring Oak Farm, Enlightenment Acres, Blue Flamingo Farm, Wilson Family Farm, Alive-n-Digginit, Eco Rich Farms, and Whippoorwill Apiaries. There will also be two new farms.

Returning bakeries include VG’s Bakery and Handmade Toffee & Treats, plus new bakeries Soul Flour Bakehouse and Singing Bread Bakery. Also returning is Cooks on the Curb, with specialty pimento cheese.

“If you need curbside pickup or home delivery, try our innovative Market-To-Go program,” Williams said. “It’s an online farmers’ market with the same products we have indoors. Order on our website (GrowOakRidge.org) during the open window from 12 p.m. Monday to 12 p.m. Thursday 12 for free curbside pickup on Saturday. For an extra $5, you can choose home delivery in Oak Ridge.

“Market-To-Go brings convenience and safety to our customers, while increasing farmer income,” Williams said. “It’s really a win-win for everyone!

“Grow Oak Ridge received a U.S. Department of Agriculture specialty crop block grant for Market-To-Go. We are excited to be able to expand the program and serve even more customers.”

The Winter Farmers’ Market and Market-To-Go are “producer-only,” meaning all vendors must make, bake, or grow what they sell within 150 miles of the market.

Volunteers are welcome throughout the market. Volunteers with musical talent are invited to play for tips, but they must sign up at GrowOakRidge.org/volunteer.

As a charitable nonprofit, the market also offers a nutrition incentive program called Double Up Food Bucks.

“We match SNAP/EBT (food stamps) spending, up to $20 per day, for fresh fruits and vegetables,” Williams said. “This helps our food-insecure neighbors enjoy the farmers’ market too.”

Masks are optional in the market at this time.

“We follow the safety guidelines for our gracious host, St. Mary’s Parish,” said Williams. “We do ask that you be respectful of one another, and be aware that Market-To-Go is available as a curbside option for those who want to avoid crowds.”

Purchasing from farmers year-round strengthens the local food system and keeps farmers coming to Oak Ridge, Williams said.

“When you see a farmer selling with us in the winter, you know they’re trying to make a living from farming, and it’s not a hobby for them,” Williams said. “We know that the national supply chain has had its difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been wonderful having a strong, resilient local food system. Now more than ever, supporting local Tennessee agriculture is important.”

As a nonprofit organization, Grow Oak Ridge relies on donations from individuals and businesses. For more information visit www.GrowOakRidge.org.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. This is a free story. Thank you to our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. You can see what we cover here.


Do you appreciate this story or our work in general? If so, please consider a monthly subscription to Oak Ridge Today. See our Subscribe page here. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today!

Alternatively, you can donate to support our work here. Thank you for your support!

Copyright 2021 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Filed Under: Business, Business, Community, Front Page News, Health, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Grow Oak Ridge, Market-To-Go, Nourish Kids Club, Rebecca Williams, St. Mary’s School, Winter Farmers Market

Advertisements


 

Join the club!

If you appreciate our work, please consider subscribing. Besides helping us, your subscription will give you access to our premium content.

Most of our stories are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our members—advertisers, subscribers, and sponsors.

But some are premium content, available only to members. Those are in-depth, investigative, or exclusive stories that are available only on Oak Ridge Today. They generally require at least four hours to report, write, and publish.

You can subscribe for as little as $5 per month.

You can read more about your options here.

We currently offer five primary subscription options to readers, and they include benefits.

Basic

  • Basic monthly subscription ($5 per month)—access premium content
  • Basic annual subscription ($60 per year)—access premium content

Pro

  • Pro monthly subscription ($10 per month)—access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month
  • Pro annual subscription ($100 per year)—save $20 per year, access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month

Temporary

  • Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here.

We also accept donations. You can donate here.

If you prefer to send a check for a subscription or donation, you may do so by mailing one to:

Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

Thank you for your consideration and for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support.

Commenting Guidelines

We welcome comments, but we ask you to follow a few guidelines:

1) Please use your real name, including last name. Please also use a valid e-mail address.
2) Be civil. Don't insult others, attack their character, or get personal.
3) Stick to the issues.
4) No profanity.
5) Keep your comments to a reasonable length and to a reasonable number per article.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these guidelines. Comments held for review, usually from those posting for the first time, may not post if they violate these guidelines. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Thank you also for reading Oak Ridge Today and for participating in the discussion.

More information is available here.

More Business News

City of Oak Ridge Seal

Horizon Center power, airport update, mercury storage on Council agenda

An airport update, potential comments about mercury storage, and an overview of a proposed 69-kilovolt electrical line for the TRISO-X project at Horizon Center are on the agenda for an Oak Ridge City Council work … [Read More...]

Planning Commission to consider rezoning for nuclear fuel fabrication

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Thursday will consider rezoning 110 acres at Horizon Center for a nuclear fuel fabrication company. The property (Lot 6a) has been purchased from the Oak Ridge Industrial … [Read More...]

Update on downtown Oak Ridge Tuesday

A city official will give an update on the proposed development of downtown Oak Ridge during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday. The presentation will be led by Wayne Blasius, director of the Oak Ridge Planning and … [Read More...]

CROET president tells Oak Ridge story on national podcast

Teresa Frady, president of the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee, is the Spotlight Interview guest on this week’s episode of the Gone Fission Nuclear Report podcast, which covers U.S. Department of … [Read More...]

Willow Ridge Garden Center named small business of month

  Willow Ridge Garden Center has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Month for February 2022. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union. Willow Ridge Garden Center is … [Read More...]

More Business

More Community News

DOE bus tours restart in Oak Ridge

U.S. Department of Energy public bus tours have resumed in Oak Ridge after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tours began running again on July 11, and they are scheduled to continue through … [Read More...]

Learn why bugs are good

Submitted Every bug has a purpose. Did you know that very few caterpillars reach their mature size because birds gobble them down? It is estimated that one pair of chickadees must find 6,000 caterpillars to feed one … [Read More...]

Oak Ridge has July 4 concert, fireworks

The annual July 4 concert and fireworks show is in Oak Ridge this evening. The Independence Day fireworks display will be held in Alvin K. Bissell Park on Monday, July 4, and it is scheduled to begin at dark, around … [Read More...]

Update on downtown Oak Ridge Tuesday

A city official will give an update on the proposed development of downtown Oak Ridge during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday. The presentation will be led by Wayne Blasius, director of the Oak Ridge Planning and … [Read More...]

Experience world cultures at Children’s Museum International Festival

Flamenco, Irish, and Greek dancers will be among entertainers at the International Festival on Saturday, February 26, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. A special guest from Ireland, musician and singer Fionan Casey, … [Read More...]

More Community

Recent Posts

  • ORAU launches new app with a variety of resources available, including hundreds of STEM internships, fellowships and research opportunities
  • Disposing of uranium waste could cost at least $7.2 billion
  • Y-12 now getting power from Pine Ridge substation
  • Man sentenced to 8 years after fleeing, crashing, attempting carjackings
  • Three Ohio residents die in two-vehicle crash
  • DOE picks Idaho for nuclear test reactor
  • TBI investigating man’s death
  • Luminarias to feature peace messages
  • Oak Ridge tennis court dance is Thursday
  • DOE bus tours restart in Oak Ridge

Search Oak Ridge Today

About Us

About Oak Ridge Today
What We Cover

How To

Advertise
Subscribe

Contact Us

Contact Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2022 Oak Ridge Today