With warmer weather on the horizon and colder days becoming few and far between, local farmers from across the region will gather to usher in the spring season on Saturday (March 21), for the annual Winter Blues North Farmers Market event in Morgantown.
“Nothing works quite as well to shake off the last of the winter blues than strolling through market stands stocked with farm-fresh food,” said Lisa Lagana, program coordinator of the West Virginia University Extension Service Virginia Small Farms Center.
The event, organized by WVUSFC and the Morgantown Farmers Market Growers Association, will also feature live bluegrass music, courtesy of Buck Mountain String Band, and a Local Food Dine Around for restaurants to dish up their fresh fare.
An estimated 40 vendors are expected to participate in the event, which will take place from 4-8 p.m. at the Ruby Community Center of Mylan Park.
“There event showcases the large diversity of products available in West Virginia at this time of year and just how much our small farmers can bring to the table,” said Lagana. “We are proud of this event and want to economically demonstrate that our West Virginia small farmers mean big business.”
Attendees can expect to find products ranging from meats including beef, pork, chicken, lamb and goat to eggs, cow cheese, jams, baked goods and winter vegetables such as lettuce, greens, winter squash and root crops.
Lagana said there will also be a small number of craft vendors selling goods ranging from wool products to handmade soaps and body products.
The Local Food Dine Around will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Area restaurants such as Preston County Inn, Garcia’s Latin Market, Morgantown Brewing Company, Hash Browns and New Grounds, Atomic Grill, PeppeBroni’s and The Cupcakerie will be in attendance, among others.
“We want to showcase local restaurants while also encouraging them to network with farmers and build the relationships necessary to incorporate local products into their menus,” Lagana said. “Often, they find that it’s much easier to make that shift toward locally sourcing than they originally thought.”
While the Winter Blues Farmers Market has been an annual event in Morgantown for the last six years, 2015 marks the first year of the Winter Blues North Farmers Market, Lagana said.
Attendees are asked to make a $2 donation upon entry to the Winter Blues North Farmers Market, with $1 contributing to the market’s future sustainability and $1 benefitting Empty Bowls Monongalia.
Cash is encouraged, but not required. The Market will be using the Morgantown Farmers Market’s token system for those wanting to use a credit, debit or SNAP cards.
The farmers market was sponsored with help from City Neon.
The purpose of the WVU Extension Service Small Farms Center is to strengthen the small farming industry in West Virginia by promoting local food and supporting small farming initiatives. For more information on WVUSFC, visit www.smallfarmcenter.ext.wvu.edu.
-WVU-
bu/03/17/15
CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu
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