Farmers’ Market at The Highland Center will have Plant Sale and Dinner Options on May 24

Spring is finally here with all her ebbs and flows, so The Highland Center is looking forward to another farmers’ market season and another reason to gather together. Vendor applications are now open for the 2024 market season which runs every Friday from May 31 to October 11. Highland County crafters, farmers, makers, entrepreneurs, new and returning vendors are all encouraged to apply.

Before the farmers’ market kicks off, a plant sale will be hosted in the pavilion at The Highland Center. Here’s The Highland Center programs coordinator Jen Rattigan to tell us more:

“So May 24 is open to anyone to bring plants, you don’t have to sign up ahead of time. Come and sell your plants! Pearl’s Pizza will be there to supply pizza for the event, and also we have some local musicians signed up to play some live music. We’ll also be doing another fundraiser for the Children’s House garden, to sell plants the kids start.”

The Backyard Gardener Program is new this year, designed to make selling easier for those who have a surplus at certain intervals throughout the summer.

“This year we’re starting the Backyard Gardener Program, which basically is just anytime you have extra in your garden, come and bring a table and sell it. We just ask that you sign up a day or so in advance, so we know that you’re coming. That way we can hold a space for you to sell. That will require a little bit of a market fee, but it’s also an opportunity.”

The farmers’ market will again be accepting SNAP/EBT and offering Fresh Match to help those in the community who want to stretch their fresh produce dollars.

“If you have access to SNAP/EBT it’s a way for you to come to the farmers’ market, you can get tokens for the SNAP and then we’ll match it for whatever you buy. This is a Virginia program to help incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into diets.”

Again, the Highland County Farmers’ Market will run every Friday from May 31 to October 11.