Board OKs new market dealThe Town Board Tuesday approved 5-0 a new agreement that will let the Davidson Farmers Market operate another year on town-owned land next to Town Hall. The agreement calls for only one noteworthy change: The market will be allowed to leave more tents up throughout the season, instead of taking them down and re-erecting them weekly. The market returns in April. Between 250 and 350 customers a week shopped at the market in 2008, according to organizers. Read a year-end report at www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org (PDF). |
Several farmers from around the area will begin Saturday morning sales of pork and beef from a town-owned parking lot off Jackson Street, next to Town Hall. Grateful Growers Farm, Gilcrest Natural Farm and Big Oak Farm have obtained permission from town officials to use the site beginning Saturday, Jan. 24, from 9-11 a.m.
The farmers plan to take pre-orders via email, and they also invite customers to stop by even if they haven’t ordered in advance. Sales will continue every other week until the return of the Davidson Farmers Market in April.
FEEDING A NEW MARKET
The Saturday sales are in part a response to the farmers’ success during the Davidson Farmers Market’s first season last year, said Natalie Veres, co-owner of Grateful Growers Farm. The market ran Saturday mornings from April to November in the area next to Town Hall.
“We’ve had great response from the folks in Davidson and we’ve had lots of inquiries from our customers there to figure out a way to keep buying from us through the winter time,” Ms. Veres said Tuesday.
“One of our goals is toe have it convenient for the customers, and to also have a location in a familiar place,” she said.
YEAR-ROUND BUSINESS
For Grateful Growers, Davidson will be one of several sales locations around the greater Charlotte region during the winter months. Ms. Veres and co-owner Cassie Parsons also sell at farmers markets in Matthews and Charlotte. They’re also starting a meat buying club in Charlotte’s Plaza-Midwood neighborhood, with Thursday drop-offs at the Common Market on Commonwealth Avenue.
The winter markets are key part of helping the farm grow its direct-sales business. “We’re fortunate that we have a product line that we can sell all year-round,” Ms. Veres said.
The Saturday sales in Davidson were initiated by the farmers themselves, as they looked for a way to cooperate to sustain sales during the winter months. All three farms are near one another in Lincoln County.
“We’re all neighbors. We can kind of band together. So if someobdy can’t make it some Saturday, I can carry their stuff and they can carry mine. We were putting our heads together trying to fiure out how we could help each other and keep our cusotmers happy there in Davidson,” Ms. Veres said.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Saturday pork and beef sales begin in Davidson Saturday, Jan. 24, 9-11 a.m., in he parking lot next to Town Hall, off Jackson Street. To find our more or to place an order with the farms, visit their websites or send an email to these addresses:
Grateful Growers, Natalie Veres, info@ggfarm.com
Gilcrest Natural Farm, Amy Foster, amyjofoster@yahoo.com
Big Oak Farm, Mike Smith, mikesmith1859@yahoo.com
CORRECTION: We’ve correct this article to clarify that the farmers plan sales every other week. The original version of this article said weekly. / David Boraks
