| To market, to
market; Winter farmers' market opens Wednesday in Greenback
Melanie Tucker
TheDailyTimes.com
If you
can’t wait for the day when local
farmers’ markets open their doors, a
visit to Greenback may be in order
this week.
That’s because a winter farmers’
market is making its debut, all
starting on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Organizer Trish Dean of Eco-Rich
Farms in Greenback said she kept
hearing from shoppers how they
missed their weekly market visits
that typically run from late March
into October — and then nothing.“When the markets close for the
winter, our customers don’t know
what to do,” she said.
“They are
calling us constantly asking,
‘Where can we get your product?’Trish Dean and her husband Jeff
are owners of Eco-Rich Farms and
raise their crops, a variety of
lettuces and herbs, using an
aquaponic food production
system. No herbicides,
pesticides or other chemicals
are used in this soilless
system. They also raise tilapia.
The fish waste provides a food
source for the plants. Both grow
together in the integrated
system.
When it all comes together
Plans for the winter Greenback
farmers’ market began back in
August 2016, Dean said. She
started asking around for a
venue, one that would be
inexpensive enough so farmers
and also crafters could make a
profit.
She found Wendy Tittsworth,
owner of the Greeback Depot.
Tittsworth was generous enough
to provide the space at no cost.
With a location secured, Dean
went about the business of
recruiting vendors. She said she
strived for variety and thinks
she found it.
Alongside her at this winter
farmers’ market will be Kelly
Thomas, a resident of
Sevierville, who makes flavored
pasta. Then there’s Julie Fawn
Boisseau-Craig. This long-time
artist works in both porcelain
and glass to create wearable art
and also functional sculptures.
The list of participants also
includes Century Harvest Farms
in Greenback (grass-fed beef), J
and M Windy Acres (eggs), Bread
and Breakfast in Kingston,
Sofie’s Handmade Soaps in
Tellico Village, Maryville’s
Southland Cafe, Janet Ratliff
(knitting and homemade greeting
cards) and The Granola Queen in
Tellico Village.
Hours for the market will be
from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on
Wednesdays starting Jan. 11.
Dean said plans are to continue
weekly to March inside the
Greenback Depot and then move
outdoors.
Getting some variety
“I didn’t want to duplicate
anything,” Dean said. “I want
everybody to be able to go in
there and be able to sell. When
markets have the same thing,
people get discouraged. Here, we
have one of everything.”
There will even be a lunch area
where shoppers can sit down and
enjoy a sandwich or slice of
cake and coffee.
Some of these vendors know each
other from participating in the
farmers’ market at Tellico
Village. Dean will be managing
it this coming season.
Boisseau-Craig is originally
from California but said she has
lived all over the country. She
resides in Rockford and is
working on her studio, Wild Pony
Studio.
In addition to working in
porcelain and glass, she often
adds metals and woods to the
mix. She has taught at Western
Carolina University and
Occonoluftee Institute for
Cultural Art. She holds a master
of fine arts degree.
She’s been an artist from a
young age. “I did my first craft
show when I was 12,” she said.
The idea of an off-season market
excites this artist. “It’s just
nice to have a place to sell in
the winter. Most shows die down,
and I am not at the point of
doing the big shows in Florida.”
Thomas makes a variety of
flavored pastas, going from
making them as gifts into
full-time production. This
resident of Sevierville said she
uses local ingredients whenever
possible.
“I source the flavors from local
farmers,” she said. “I have one
pasta that I make with chili
powder made with locally grown
chili peppers.”
Many are new at the flavored
pasta table so Thomas provides
recipes on her website,
www.kellyspasta.com. She
likes pairing pastas with fresh
vegetables and olive oil.
Her products are also sold in
specialty shops in Knoxville and
surrounding areas. She
participates in area farmers’
markets as well.
Thomas and the others are
looking forward to the Greenback
Farmers Market. Dean said there
is room for more vendors.
This will be Thomas’ first time
visiting Greenback. “It will be
an adventure,” she said. Dean
hopes her hard work pays off and
shoppers will find what they are
looking for.
“I wanted it to be nice from the
start,” she said. “I want people
to come, like it and return.”
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