Farmers Markets open, Dobson doing business early

Surry County commissioners recently learned area farmers seem to be doing well — at least the ones growing and selling plants at local markets.

Joseph Zalescik, who oversees the county farmer’s markets, gave an annual update to the board last week regarding the markets, including that the Dobson Farmers Market was opening early this year because those vendors had a lot of plants ready to go and were ready to get them to the public.

There are four Farmers Markets open across the county he told the board, and each is now open for the season.

He told the board that the Pilot Mountain market was ready for their first weekend in action in the parking lot next to First United Methodist Church. That market successfully launched over the weekend during Mayfest and will operate on Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pilot Mountain Mayor Evan Cockerham was one of those in attendance for the market’s first day of operations.

Markets across the county are also found in Mount Airy where the market sets up on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the post office building located at 111 South Main Street. Dobson holds its market under the shelter at 903 E. Atkins St. on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. Elkin hosts the Farmers Market outside Town Hall at 226 North Bridge Street. When produce is in season, Zalescik said the Elkin market is the largest of the four with more than 40 purveyors.

A few weeks ago, he gave economic impact numbers to the City of Mount Airy and last Monday Zalescik did the same for the county. “Countywide our four market in sales annually do a quarter million dollars. Now these are small farmers, and some do their livelihood through crafts, but we have estimated $250,000 in sales for the year,” he said.

Zalescik told the board of a program the members may not be aware of. “One of the things that our market does is the senior voucher program. We are one of only 49 counties that participate in the program. Each senior that is eligible gets a book of $50 in vouchers to spend on produce and we are in the middle of training our vendors for that program.”

The North Carolina Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program provides eligible lower-income older adults with coupons to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at their local farmers’ markets. The program is designed to improve the nutrition of older adults and increase business for local farmers.

Not all vendors participate in the voucher program, but Zalescik said that training was to help more take part. To receive more information on the program call a local YVEDDI office.

“Please come out and see us,” Zalescik offered as an invitation to the board. “This is the livelihood for quite a few people. They pay their light bill and mortgages with sales from these markets. Any support is really appreciated.”