Farmers Market

The Boyle County Farmers Market appreciates its customers rain or shine. Saturday, the market held its customer appreciation day despite heavy morning rain. “We are die-hards, and you have those die-hard customers just like we are,” Manager Joyce Taylor said. By 9 a.m. about nine “die-hard” farmers were all set up under various tents ready to sell. Customers could chose from a variety of products, including eggplants, green beans, kennel, fennel, breads, eggs, honey and zucchini.

One jar homemade blackberry jam, one carton fresh ripe blackberries, two personal-size fried apple pies, two locally-grown bell peppers and one small yellow onion: $11.50. Knowing that my food wasn't transported cross-country on gas-guzzling trucks, picked before it was ready or treated with chemicals on an industrial farm: priceless. Every time I would drive by the Saturday farmers market on Danville's Main Street and think about stopping, I thought I needed more cash in my pocket or time on my hands to stop.

Although Saturday was shivery cold and wet, our ever-faithful customers came out to see us. Some were wrapped in rain gear and gloves. Others, dressed for warmer weather, made a mad dash to purchase their goodies then back to their vehicles to warm up. After a couple of weeks of mostly green produce, it's nice to see the splash of red made by ripe, juicy strawberries now making an appearance. Strawberries should be coming in more heavily in the next few weeks as temperatures rise.

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STANFORD - The Lincoln County Farmers Market has been awarded $33,255 in grant money to install a permanent structure for its operations. Farmers Market Treasurer Steven Hoeck said the plan is to use the state and local funds from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund to construct a building at First Southern Veterans Park in Stanford. “We're excited,” Hoeck said. “It brings a much better place for local farmers to be able to sell their produce.” The farmers market currently sells by the roadside near the intersection of Somerset Street and U.S. 27. Hoeck said the county site the market currently uses has been declared surplus and will be sold off. The goal is to get the new permanent structure built in time to use it when the market opens again next year, possibly in June.

The Boyle County outdoor Farmers Market opened Saturday for the 2013 season. We are open on Saturdays at the Boyle County Fairgrounds, only for the month of April. Beginning in May, our regular Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday hours will be in effect. Now the outdoor market is open, the indoor Boyle County Farmers' Market on Main Street is closed. Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the winter months. We will have some new faces and new products at the market this year.

The Boyle County Farmers Market 3rd Annual Christmas Sale was a huge success. Thanks to all who came out to do their Christmas shopping with us! It was wonderful to visit with all of you again. The market will open a month earlier next year. Watch this column for more news and updates as the 2012 market days approach. If you are interested in becoming a member of our market for 2012, contact Gary Taylor at the phone number listed below. The Boyle County Farmers Market is located at the Boyle County Fairgrounds.

Eek! There are monsters in our garden! That little bit of rain last week made the zucchini grow way too fast. Good thing I put in the recipe for using large zucchini last week. Hopefully, everyone knows what to do with monster squash now. One of these could easily feed a crowd. The rain last week also kicked the cucumbers into high gear. We had cucumbers left after market day and could pick many more these past few days. I made bread and butter pickles and some refrigerator dill pickles over the weekend.

The Boyle County Farmers Market will open for the season 8 a.m.-noon Saturday at East Martin Luther King Boulevard behind Morley's Wheel Service. Operating during the summers for more than 10 years, Farmers Market is sponsored by the Danville/Boyle County Chamber of Commerce. Hours are 8 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Call the chamber at (859) 236-2361 for more information.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for Berry Blast Saturday on May 25. Complimentary strawberry shortcake samples, made with local homegrown strawberries, will be offered to our patrons. Our local schools will be competing in a farmers market poster contest. Winners will be announced on that day as well. The Farmers Market now is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Stop in soon to see what's available. Note: Some vendors will be present only on Saturdays until their crops begin to come in. Here are some of the offerings you can find this week: Big Holler Farm, Kathy and Randy Williams: homegrown - green onions, radishes, lettuce; pork products - sausage, roasts, ribs and burgers; eggs Briar Knob, John and Monareia Wyatt: homemade sourdough breads - white, 100 percent whole wheat, wheatberry, cinnamon raisin, cranberry, French boulet rolls, butter biscuits (Saturdays only)

Shoppers will get a first taste of what the local farmers market has to offer this season at a special opening weekend event, Breakfast with the Farmer. According to Winchester-Clark County Farmers Market President Debbie Barnes, Breakfast with the Farmer will be an opportunity for consumers to meet with producers and learn more about where their food is coming from. They also will have a chance to make requests for certain fruits, vegetables or other homemade goods, and get to know farmers more personally.

The Boyle County outdoor Farmers Market opened last Saturday for the 2013 season. We couldn't have asked for better weather! It was so good to see the sunshine and smiling faces again. We are looking forward to a great season. As fruits and vegetables make their way from our farms and gardens, we will have the market tables filled to overflowing. Check this column every Wednesday for list of available items. Plans are in the works for several special events at the market this year.

The Boyle County outdoor Farmers Market opened Saturday for the 2013 season. We are open on Saturdays at the Boyle County Fairgrounds, only for the month of April. Beginning in May, our regular Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday hours will be in effect. Now the outdoor market is open, the indoor Boyle County Farmers' Market on Main Street is closed. Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the winter months. We will have some new faces and new products at the market this year.

Only one more week before the outdoormarket opens for the 2013 season. April 6 is opening day. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again. We will have some new faces and new products at the market this year. Check this column every Wednesday for upcoming announcements and listings. The indoor Boyle County Farmers' Market will continue to operate until the outdoor market opens in the Spring. We are located in the Professional Building on Main Street (next to Hilliard and Lyons)

The Bluegrass Heritage Museum and the Winchester Farmers Market are joining forces to host a showcase of life in Clark County in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The exhibition and demonstrations of Kentucky's early life is entitled “Growing Kentucky, Agricultural Exhibitions & Conversations.” “We wanted to present agriculture to the people of this town to show what it was like when people first arrived here,” said Debbie Barnes, president of the Winchester Farmers Market.

The indoor Boyle County Farmers  Market will continue to operate until the outdoor market opens in the Spring. We are located in the Professional Building on Main Street in Danville (next to Hilliard and Lyons). Hours are: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Stop in for fresh vegetables, baked goods, jams, jellies, sorghum, honey, frozen meats and more. Beginning Saturday, fresh French boulet (round, crusty rolls) will be available from Briar Knob Farm each Saturday.

The Boyle County Farmers Market will hold its fourth annual Christmas sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds on the Danville bypass.   Come visit us at the brown metal building located just behind our usual market area. There will be lots of great gifts, gift baskets, fresh greenery and baked goods, just to name a few. See below for a listing of some of the great things you will find. Briar Knob Farm: sourdough sweet breads, sourdough bread and rolls, pumpkin bread, cheddar cheese rolls and granola.