If you think farmers markets are strictly a warm weather proposition, think again. The Winter Blues Farmers Market and Local Foods Dine-Around will take place on Thursday (Feb. 27) at the Morgantown Event Center. The events are held in conjunction with the West Virginia University Extension Service Small Farm Conference.

Fifty vendors are expected to participate, with products ranging from fresh eggs, locally raised and grazed meats, and artisan cheeses to fresh herbs, jams and jellies, pickles, wintered vegetables and cider. There will also be non-food items such as hand-spun wool, leather goods and woodworking products.

This is the sixth year for the market, which features Future Farmers of America groups from across the state selling a wide variety of products they have raised on the farm.

Lesa Gay, Winter Blues Farmers Market coordinator, believes the FAA involvement is good for both the students and the community.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the FFA students to see that they can make a living by farming,” Gay said. “At the same time, community members get a chance to meet and support the people who could potentially be growing their food one day.”

The farmers market hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Credit and SNAP cards will be accepted.

The Local Foods Dine-Around runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. It features offerings from Garcia’s Latin Market, Preston County Inn, Martin’s Barbeque Joint, Terra Cafe, Taziki’s, Woodburn Shanks, Bridgeport Conference Center and Waterfront Hotel.

Entertainment for the evening will be provided by the Buck Mountain String Band from Augusta, W.Va.

The Winter Blues Farmers Market is held in conjunction with the tenth annual West Virginia Small Farm Conference.

The market is hosted by the West Virginia Farmers Market Association and the WVU Extension Service Small Farm Center, with support from the West Virginia University Human Nutrition and Foods Department, Change the Future West Virginia, the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, the Natural Capital Investment Fund and the Mountaineer Country Farmers Market.

For more information on the WVU Small Farms Center, visit smallfarmcenter.ext.wvu.edu, or call 304-293-2642.

-WVU-

mb/02/24/14

CONTACT: Cassie Waugh, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Waugh@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.