Plans for winter sales of local farm products in downtown Davidson are continuing to evolve this week. After several area farmers independently organized winter sales days to begin this Saturday, Jan. 24, the non-profit Davidson Farmers Market said Tuesday it will  step in to manage the sales. Other farmers and vendors who also were part of the 2008 market season also are being invited back, though organizers said the sales would be on a smaller scale than the in-season market.

Sales will be every other Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. beginning this weekend, and continuing Feb. 7 and 21, March 7 and 21, and April 4 and 18. The regular Davidson Farmers Market resumes May 2, with weekly Saturday sales on the site, off Main Street next to Town Hall. (Update: This schedule reflects date revisions announced on Jan. 22/DB)

The latest development in plans for winter sales follows the success and popularity of the 2008 Davidson Farmers Market, which attracted several hundred shoppers weekly between May and November, as well as two holiday market days before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Last week, three Lincoln County farmers who were part of the 2008 market  announced plans for Saturday sales of pork and beef in the parking lot off Jackson Street, next to Town Hall. At the time they said their efforts were independent of the Davidson Farmers Market, which had planned to take the winter off.

But Tuesday, the Davidson Farmers Market announced it would help oversee the winter sales, and invite additional farmers as well.

“It kind of came upon us suddenly. We hadn’t planned to do this,” market coordinator Mary Jane Leach told DavidsonNews.net.

After the trio of farmers – Grateful Growers, Big Oak Farm and Gilchrest Natural Farm – drew up their plans, “Other people expressed interest, too,” said Edie  Surratt, Davidson Farmers Market spokeswoman.

Ms. Leach said the market “will start slowly, with the meat vendors,” and possibly other farms. “It’s not really produce season, but some farmers do have greenhouse crops. And there will certainly be baked goods.”

Barbee Farms has expressed interest, but organizers said it’s not clear yet which other farmers or vendors will join in, though the market plans to limit participation to those who were involved in the 2008 market.

PLANNING FOR NEW SEASON

The Davidson Farmers Market will post an applications for farmers and vendors interested in joining the 2009 sales on its website, www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org, on Feb. 1. Deadline will be Feb. 28.