The Wytheville Farmers Market seems to be off to a pretty good start. According to Harold Underwood who is the on-site manager, the number of vendors and customers is growing each week. By noon yesterday, 175 plus folks had stopped by, up from 101 total last Saturday. Located in the former RP Johnson & Sons lot at 355 East Main Street, the Market is currently open Saturdays from 7:00 am to 1:00pm, and Tuesdays from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

The market is the result of the collaboration between the Wythe-Bland Community Foundation, the Wytheville Community College Healthy Living Project, the Bland County Board of Supervisors, and the VA Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. HOPE Inc. (Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence), under the direction of Andy Kegley, is the managing agency.

Anne and I arrived at 11:00 am and the remaining vendors were still doing a fair amount of business though the pickins’ were starting to get a little slim. Still, there were some excellent deals on squash, zucchini, broccoli, bell peppers, cantaloupe, and cabbage. Sue Govin had a few tempting baked goods left and some beautiful honey she was selling for another vendor who couldn’t stay. Pauline Cregger told me that there was a line of 30 – 40 people waiting to get in when the market opened so I guess you should plan on getting there early.

Though our own garden is starting to produce, we still purchased some things for ourselves and to take to friends and family when Anne heads to Maryland today for a week. Alvin Cassell’s tasty cantaloupe was on the dinner table last night sprinkled with some chopped spearmint.

I strongly urge all of you to support this project. Aside from the fact that the products sold here are fresher and cheaper, the money spent at the Market stays in our local economy. Chain grocery stores send 89 cents out of every dollar to other states and other countries. Our farmers are being pressed on every side with increases in the cost of fuel, fertilizer, equipment , recent increases in property taxes and the minimum wage, and tighter credit. Farmer’s Markets give them another source of income and a greater return on investment. If you think relying on foreign oil is a problem, what do you think a total reliance on foreign food would be like?

If you are interested in participating as a vendor, contact Andy Kegley, HOPE, Inc. (toll free 1-877-818-8680 or 276-228-6280, Ext. 211.)

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Pauline Cregger smiles at a comment from another vendor.