Market on Main enjoys beautiful weather
Published 9:02 pm Sunday, June 10, 2018
Saturday’s Market on Main wasn’t officially the first of the year, but it was the first one where rain didn’t put a damper on things.
Last week, it stormed at the market and less customers than usual took part. This week many local farms returned, and the sun returned too.
Bugg Farm in Pine Mountain was among the vendors out Saturday morning. They’ve been taking part in Market on Main for the last three years and plan to continue going back.
“It was the meeting and greeting of people, the energy and vibe of it,” said Addis Bugg. “It’s nice talking to them and having a good communication and trying to meet new people.”
There were around a dozen vendors at Saturday’s Market on Main, with everything from produce, jams, homecooked pies, goat cheese and peppers.
Most of the vendors enjoy the opportunity to talk with customers, who ask a lot of questions about the produce they have available. Farmer Luther Beasley loves to talk about cooking.
“I’m a cook myself, and I tell them what kind of meat they can put in collards, like pork, hammocks and stuff like that,” Beasley said. “I give them the whole nine yards on how to prepare it. I have a lot of young people who have never prepared collards, turnips, peas or stuff like that and I take my time and explain to them how they can prepare it. The following week they’ll come back, tell them they appreciate it, really enjoyed it and they buy more.”
Beasley had pepper jelly, figs and crabapples available, but the most unique item at Saturday’s market might’ve been goat milk and goat cheese from Green Acres Farm in Greenville.
“We had a very successful year last year, so we came back this year,” said Pat Holloway with Green Acres.
Holloway said they get a lot of questions about their product, but they also have a lot of returning customers.
“A lot of people have never heard of goat cheese, but most people know it’s a delicacy in most restaurants and to get it fresh, they are just overwhelmed,” Holloway said. “That’s really our best seller (cheese), even though we sell the soap and milk.”
The Market on Main is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. through August. The market takes place in the parking lot behind the AMC Theater.