Highland Farmers’ Market To Hold Special Meat Market

The Highland County Farmers’ Market may be closed during the winter when fresh produce is out of season, but a new special market is being introduced, this one with a focus on local meat.  Cornelia Granbery works with the Highland Center as their Food Systems Coordinator, and she has more on this story.

“We’re working together with the Highland Farmers’ market to host a local meat market.  It’s essentially called the Winter Meat Market.  It’s during the offseason of the farmers’ market as a way to provide an outlet for producers in the area, livestock producers in the area who utilize Alleghany Meats, meat processing facility here in Monterey.

“We’ll have about five different vendors selling beef, bison, pork, lamb, and there will be trout as well.  It will be at the Highland Center.  It will be indoors, upstairs in the auditorium on Friday, March 3^rd from 4:30 to 6:00 pm.

“We have a variety of producers coming from this region in Highland County, as well as south in Alleghany County, even over from Pendleton County.  They work really hard on the farm, and they’re great supporters of Alleghany Meats, our meat processing facility here, and we want them to have a stronger outlet in the area to sell their meats direct to consumer locally.  I know myself, you know, as a consumer, I like to be able to buy meat locally, and we want to facilitate that as best we can during the offseason from the farmers’ market.

“This is the first time we’re doing the market.  We hope, you know, everyone comes out and supports these producers.  Then hopefully, we’ll do it again down the road.”

Ms. Granbery says that the market is helping with a local foods promotion program grant in support of Alleghany Meats.

“Alleghany Meats is a meat processing facility here in Monterey, Virginia opened in 2012.  They’re a slaughter and processing facility.  They also have value-added services for pork, beef, bison, lamb, and goat.”

Again, the new special market will be at The Highland Center auditorium on Friday, March 3^rd from 4:30 to 6 pm.

“I would recommend you contact the Highland Center directly.   We will be posting on Facebook through Alleghany Meats, as well as the Highland Farmers’ Market Facebook page, as well as The Highland Center Facebook page.  We’re also going to be advertising through The Recorder and there will be more information there, but feel free to call us at The Highland Center.”