Kingsport Farmers Market Celebrates National Farmers Market Week
The Kingsport Farmers Market joins markets across the country in celebrating National Farmers Market Week from August 1 – 7, 2021. Visit KFM social media all week long for facts about farmers market and a contest, where you could win a KFM t-shirt! On Saturday, the market will host Market Jams with Lightnin’ Charlie and Tomato Fest.
National Farmers Market Week is an annual celebration of farmers markets coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition, a membership-based nonprofit organization that supports farmers markets nationwide through training, technical assistance, and network-building. This year, the campaign is centered on the essential role that farmers markets play in our local food systems and in developing local resilience in communities as hubs for connection.
The Kingsport Farmers Market began in 1977 and currently hosts over 110 farmers and crafters selling a wide variety of products, from fresh produce to local meats, baked goods and handmade crafts. National Farmers Market Week is a celebration of these vendors and the benefits of having local produce and goods available to the Kingsport community.
The 17th Annual Homegrown Tomato Fest will take place during the Saturday market on August 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. This celebration of the juicy, red fruit features tomato contests and free tomato tastings (including many heirloom varieties).
Gather your finest and/or funkiest tomatoes and enter them in the contests for Best Tasting, Biggest, Prettiest, Ugliest, Most Bizarre and/or Best Dressed Tomato. Make an extra batch of your favorite salsa recipe and compete for bragging rights in the Best Salsa Contest. Admission is free and there are no entry fees. Entry forms may be downloaded from the SAPS website, www.saps.us. Entries will be accepted from 8 to 9 a.m. for all contests, winners will be announced after 10 a.m. Homegrown Tomato Fest is sponsored by the Southern Appalachian Plant Society (SAPS).
Beginning at 9 a.m. that same day, KFM welcomes Lightnin’ Charlie for Market Jams. Bring a bagged chair and enjoy a set from this popular and prolific musician who describes his sound as “good music for good people.”
The Kingsport Farmers Market is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, please visit kingsportfarmersmarket.org.