The farmers market returned to Hayesville on May 16 and made its debut at the Clay County Recreation Park. On the opening day, there were 9 vendors and 120 visitors who stopped by to shop local agriculture, value-added products, and baked goods.
“It was a success,” said Kim Terrell, Clay County Center Extension Director, “Whenever you plan an event like this, you always worry you will have enough vendors and then will there be enough visitors to show up to support the vendors? Within the first half-hour, we knew that was no longer a problem because the parking area was already full!” In fact, shoppers started showing up early for the event, showing that the community has been craving the return of a farmers market to Hayesville for quite some time! Visitors not only showed up from the local community, but some came from Cherokee County, Towns County, & Union County to shop and support locally produced products!
The farmers market is a tailgate-style market. Vendors can set up one of 2 ways, either with a tent and table or directly out the back of their vehicle, whichever is easiest. “It’s also a true farmers market,” added Terrell, “The committee that helped us form the market shared in our vision of the market being ‘old-fashioned’ and only allowing agriculture-related vendors, this was needed due to the space constraints due to the area we have to set up.”
And how did the vendors feel about the event? “All of the vendors were very pleased with how it turned out,” Terrell said, “In fact, at one point during the evening we were so packed that it was a bit overwhelming, but that is a great problem to have!”
The Clay County Farmers Market is a weekly event, every Thursday now through October 31 from 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM at the Clay County Rec Park in front of the Black & Gold Building (333 Ball Park Dr.). We invite the community to come out and support local agriculture!
If you are interested in becoming a vendor, applications are available online or stop by our office at 25 Riverside Circle, Suite 2, Hayesville to pick up a copy – there is no vendor fee! Vendor spaces are open to any agriculture-producing vendors including agriculture products, horticulture products, agriculture value-added products, and baked goods. For more info, contact the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Clay County Center at (828) 389-6305.
