The Greeneville Sun, Benchmarks Edition — March 24, 2018
AGRICULTURE SECTION
BENCHMARKS
Page 2 The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
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Saturday, March 24, 2018
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
Cattle at Morgan Farms, owned by Buddy and Jeannie Morgan, enjoyed green pastures resulting from warm temperatures and abundant rain in May 2017.
Greene County Escapes Clutches Of ’16-17 Drought BY BIANCA MARAIS SPECIAL TO THE SUN For the first time in almost 100 years, Greene County is not labeled “extreme” or, more severely, “exceptional.” This is according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, which combines federal, state and academic data to describe drought conditions in the United States. Many Tennesseans have spoken of the “nearly hundred-year-long drought,” which seems to have been ongoing on-and-off for the past century. It seems Greene County residents have grown accustomed to the dryness, so it comes as a relief that the weather vane has decided to take a turn for the better. The back half of 2016 and early 2017 saw Greene County — and the rest of East Tennessee — mired in a historic drought. As of March, the U.S. Drought Portal on drought. gov, reports that “in areas
of existing dryness and drought, precipitation exceeded 1.5 inches only in southeastern Tennessee and adjacent areas … windstorms were almost as noteworthy as precipitation patterns this past week.” According to the National Climatic Data Center’s daily climatology report, between Jan. 1 and March 6, East Tennessee had seen 11.54 inches of precipitation. The average value is 10.90 inches, while 2017 was only 9.40 inches. As far as tobacco production in Greene County, Melody Rose of the UT Extension in Greeneville says that “most farmers already sold their 2017 crop and started transplant production in greenhouses.” The turn in weather comes almost exactly a year after Greene County Farms Service Agency Executive Director Lisa Duncan announced that the county’s farmers were SUN FILE PHOTO BY O.J. EARLY
SEE DROUGHT ON PAGE 3
Cattle stand at the edge of a dried-up pond on the Wells farm in Mohawk in November 2016.
Number Of Dairy Farms Continues Decline BY BIANCA MARAIS SPECIAL TO THE SUN
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Greene County is the leading in milk production county in the state of Tennessee.
What’s Inside How did 2017 Go After Historic Drought? Number Of Dairy Farms Continues Decline Dean Food Cancels Milk Contracts For Some Local Dairies Successful Beef Farming Is About Efficiency Greeneville High School 4-H’er Has Career Year Farm-City Banquet Celebrates County’s Agriculture Farmers Markets Will Remain At Separate Locations For 2018
Sometimes it feel as if there are more cows than people in agriculturally rich Greene County, and that’s because there actually are. But that bovine number is decreasing. “Greene County is number one in milk production in the state of Tennessee,” said Samantha J. Jean, deputy director of communication for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. In 2016, Greene County was home to a total of 70,000 cattle and calves, 33,500 of which were beef cows and only 3,500 were milk cows, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Services, Tennessee Field Office in January
2016. That same year, neighboring Washington County was home to 41,500 total cows and calves, of which 18,000 were beef cows and only 1,200 were for milking. Monroe County had the third most cows with a total of 38,000, and Unicoi County had the least amount of total cows in the state of Tennessee with 700. From the cattle by county estimates published in January 2017, the figures came to the exact figure as before with regards to the total number of all cows and calves in Greene County, totaling 70,000. But in January 2017, only 3,100 dairy cows were reported. Not only are there 400 fewer dairy cows in Greene County; there are also SEE DECLINE ON PAGE 3
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PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture permitted 32 dairy farms in Greene County this year.
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fewer dairy operations. “The Tennessee Department of Agriculture permitted 35 dairy farms in Greene County,” Jean said in March. “As of today, that number is 32.” Once upon a time, almost every household in Greene County had a cow that they would milk for personal use. Then came Pet Milk and the dairy industry in the county was booming until the 1990s. That end came in the 1990s when Pet Milk left the area, which led to the demise of a large number of dairy farms leaving the county with only a fraction of the amount of milking farms that was permitted in the county’s heyday. Generational farmers are also dwindling due to the lack of interest or capital. Chuckey-Doak High School junior Shea-Ann Thornburg recently said she grew up on a fully-functioning dairy farm. As she grew older though, the family dairy farm changed to a simple hobby farm. Thornburg is a member
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eligible for government assistance following “one of the worst droughts in nearly a decade.” Assistance to farmers in Greene County was made possible by the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. It is an initiative that provides compensation to farmers who suffer feed losses during a drought. Many kinds of livestock farmers were eligible, including cattle (beef and dairy), poultry and sheep. “As far as how are farmers handling not having a drought, most producers are in the process of repairing pastures and hayfields,” said Milton Orr, director of University of Tennessee Extension in Greene County. “And some producers are rebuilding where large numbers of cattle were liquidated due to low feed supplies.” This could be a reason why the number in dairy cows dropped by 400 from 2016 to 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Services, Tennessee Field Office. The USDAA-NASS Tennessee Field Office reported the same number of cattle, both beef and dairy, in 2016 and 2017, with a total of 70,000. However, in 2016, 3,500 milk cows were reported and in 2017, only 3,100 were reported in Greene County. So the wetter weather in recent months is good news for Greene County producers.
of the Chuckey-Doak Future Farmers of America chapter. State statistics show that over 21,000 high school students are currently enrolled in their school’s agricultural education programs in Tennessee, preparing them for careers in farming, ag-marketing, communications, education, sales
and a multitude of others. Chuckey-Doak High School has an on-campus greenhouse, as well as a functioning farm. Greene County UT Extension Director Milton Orr told The Greeneville Sun in May 2017 that even though, milk payouts are decreasing, which puts pressure on producers,
he has hope for dairymen locally. “I think we will reach a point to where — when we start looking at these cooperatives buying milk — they’re going to reach a point where the margin between ‘needs’ and ‘surplus’ gets closer together,” Orr said of dropping demand for milk. “They’re
going to make some changes to widen that back out. The buyers are pretty savvy about this stuff.” He doesn’t think the price of milk will reach a point to push all small dairymen out of business. “The future doesn’t look nearly as good as it used to,” he said last year.
“But there is a future in it. The farmer can’t really drive the price of milk that much,” he said. “I think a lot of the issue is, we tend to act out of emotion instead of sitting down and really knowing the true cost of producing our product and looking at where we can make changes.”
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Dean Food Cancels Milk Contracts For Some Local Dairies the country and nobody is accepting new milk because of over saturation in the market. Holland wants to work on her family’s farm after completing her degree. She is currently enrolled in Walters State Community College studying agribusiness. But the way the industry has been going and the recent news from Dean may force her to change her plans. “It’s not been good for the last four years,” she said. “I really and truly don’t think there’s going to be dairy farms left around here. It’s coming to where they want big factory farms.” She said the move toward factory farms, while possibly more convenient for milk distributors, could lead to bigger issues. Having smaller farms around could help secure the milk and dairy products better than a large farm. Dairy farmers are struggling, and this announcement is just adding to the struggle, she said. “This is a depressing industry to be in,” she said. “Like last month, processors were making $50 to $52 per hundred pound while we’re getting paid $16 per hundred pound and then they take 10 cents out on top of that ... and then we have to pay for them to even come and pick the milk up and take it to the plant.” One solution Holland put forward was for people to purchase local milk. She called on grocery stores in the region to go back to purchasing milk from local dairy farms and have it processed and bottled at a Mayfield plant. She said people need to call different grocers around the region and demand they carry local milk. If the family is unable to sell their milk, they may have to do the unthinkable. “The only option we have got ... is to quit, to sell out,” she said. “I don’t want to see that happen. I really don’t and my family doesn’t either.”
BY NICK SHEPHERD STAFF WRITER Milk companies are terminating contracts with farmers across the state due to market saturation, and those cuts apply to some dairy farmers in Greene County. Dean Foods announced in March it will no longer purchase milk from approximately 100 famers nationwide effective May 31. According to The Daily Post-Athenian, approximately 10 farmers in East Tennessee will be affected, with between four to six inside Greene county. “Unfortunately, Dean Foods has made the difficult decision to end milk procurement contracts with a number of farmers in about 90 days,” Dean Foods Director of Corporate Communications Reace Smith told the Athens, Tennessee, newspaper. “We regret this decision had to be made. Our decision was an incredibly difficult one and a step that we worked very hard to avoid.” Too much milk being produced is one of the main factors contributing to the decision. Farms in Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio have been notified of the cancellations. Dean will continue to purchase milk from 12,000 producers across the country, including some in the state. Greene County University of Tennessee Extension Director Milton Orr said farmers affected in the county were informed about the decision. “Some of our farmers got letters as much as 10 days to two weeks ago as far as the intent of the matter goes,” he said. “It’s something that’s been brewing for a little while. The company’s actually not letting a lot of information out about it other than just contacting the farmers.” Orr said it was a business decision but did not come at a good time for producers. Milk is currently selling at $2.33 a pound. Sammy Southerland was one of those producers who lost his contract. His family has been milking since the early 1960s on their farm in Chuckey. The letter he received came out of the blue. “I’m just kindly at awe about this,” he said. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve never been in this position in this agriculture field in my life. This kindly blows our mind.” Southerland said he does not have another contract for his milk. He’s hopeful he find a company to but his milk, but there is a high level of
SUN FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL S. RENEAU
Dairy farmers in East Tennessee, including some in Greene County, are facing a dilemma after Dean Foods announced it would cancel contracts with many of its milk producers.
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Ashlan Holland is pictured here with one of her cows. Holland’s family farm, Holly Knolls, could be at risk after Dean Foods canceled milk contracts recently.
uncertainty about his future. Dean is not the only company terminating contracts with dairy farmers. Piedmont Milk Sales in Blountville is also cutting back on contracts, but the company is looking into forming a co-op with dairy farmers. Orr said it basically means Piedmont is moving out of the transportation business. A number of different things will happen with area farmers whose contracts were terminated. The first route any farmer would take would be to find someone who will pick up their current contracts, Orr said. A few producers may have the opportunity to market some cows. Orr said one or two Greene County producers were looking at the possibility of going to less strenuous production due to
age or health problems. He said cancelation of contracts was the final decision-maker for them. “That would be the least invasive and cause the least
amount of change,” he said. “I think most all of them, it is so new to them they can’t tell you exactly what is set in concrete right now.” Holly Knoll farms in
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Mosheim was one of 10 farms across Tennessee which found out a couple of weeks ago their contracts would be canceled on May 31. Ashlan Holland has lived on the farm with her parents for her entire life. She said this decision could spell the end for them. “It’s sad to see what you and your family love get taken away,” she said. “We’ve been in the dairy business for 80 years. I’ve got cows that got names. Some of them eat Oreos and everything else. They’re all my pets and we just don’t want to see that taken away from us.” There are approximately 480 head of cattle on Holly Knolls farm, and almost all of them are dairy cows. There are around 10 to 20 beef cattle on the farm and sometimes the family plants soy beans. But their main focus has been dairy. And so far, the farm has been unsuccessful in trying to find another vendor to take their milk. Holland said she has called places around
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Succesful Beef Farming Is About Efficiency BY BIANCA MARAIS SPECIAL TO THE SUN While technological progressions like “clean meat” — beef grown by geneticists in a lab instead of on a farm by cattle farmers — pop up in certain pockets, the beef market still requires old fashioned know-how and tradition. And in Greene County, despite beef prices that have dropped in the last couple years, the number of beef cattle has held steady. “In Greene County today, the number of beef producers is very similar to five to 10 years previous,” said Milton Orr, director of the UT Extension in Greene County. While the older population may be reducing or eliminating numbers, a number of small, younger, producers are entering the business. This is not a trend for the state or nation however.” Most farmers and agricultural professionals have never heard of things like “clean meat.” “I think it is a little early to have a good handle on the potential effect on cattle production locally,” said Orr of “clean meat” making its way to Greene County markets. “It will be necessary to have a better idea of the acceptance of this concept by the public and the cost comparison between this and traditional protein supplies to accurately address this question.” Grassy Valley Angus Farm made Greeneville proud last year by being ranked as one of the largest registering Angus beef farms in the state of Tennessee. The Duckworth family has proudly owned and operated the cattle farm since 1933. The family
registered about 200 cows in 2017. “The reason my grandfather moved to Greeneville, Tennessee, in the ‘30s, is because there were a lot of cattle here,” said Lee Duckworth, director of the East Tennessee Angus Association and owner of Grassy Valley Angus Farm. As the farm grew over four generations, the number of registered, or purebred, cows surpassed the number of commercial, or crossbred, cows on Grassy Valley Farm. Greene County is home to the most cattle (beef and dairy) in the state of Tennessee, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Services. With a total of 70,000 head of cattle registered in both 2016 and 2017, the number of beef cattle, however, seems to have grown by 400 head. The Duckworth family, full of veterinarians, is proud to use progressive technology, such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer, ultrasound data and genomic testing. “The goal of our program is to most accurately identify the genetic potential of the animals we sell, and when we accurately identify what they’re good at or what their genetic potential is, as defined by their EPDs, the people that purchase those animals can best use them to help them become more profitable, mostly with their commercial program with their commercial cattle,” Duckworth explained. EPDs, or Expected Progeny Differences, are numbers that are applied to economically important traits to allow comparisons to be made between animals.
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
The Duckworth family has operated Grassy Valley Angus Farm in Greene County for four generations, since the 1930s.
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Grassy Valley Angus Farm is one of the many beef producers in Greene County.
Duckworth said over the generations, his family members have all enjoyed working with animals, the cattle and the land. The Grassy Valley Angus Farm has an annual production sale on the first Saturday in April where the bulls and females are marketed. The farm is located at 103 McCall St. According to Orr, when looking at the “terms of the cost to raise a calf, we usual-
ly talk in terms of the annual cow maintenance cost being the major cost of production from birth to weaning (about 7 months of age). This figure varies widely but the average for this area is around $400.” This means it costs $400 to raise a calf to 7 months of age, but that young of a calf is not nearly a mature animal. “The value of this calf at this stage can be anywhere
from $400 to $850,” said Orr. “The reason for this wide range of value depends on the breed, as well as the growth of the animal since these animals are sold by weight.” Other factors are involved too, though. “Certain breeds sell for more than others depending on the desire of buyers, much like the preferences of car buyers, appliances, etc,” Orr said. “When we
talk about a mature cow, we are talking about a female that is reproductively active which can be a value of $1,000 to $1,500.” As with any business, efficiency is key for cattle producers. “Prices about two years ago for a live 500-pound calf of preferred type and breed, were at a record high of $3 per pound and more,” said Orr. “Current prices for the same animal today are about $1.50 per pound.” “While the profit potential is not as great as many would like, those producers that are producing calves that are preferred by the buyers in the market they use and are managing those calves correctly, can realize a return of up to $400 available for land and management,” Orr continued. “The key is managing the cow herd so that this is an annual return. When cows do not produce a calf every 12 months, this amount has to be divided over a longer period of time.”
Greeneville High School 4-H’er Has Career Year BY NICK SHEPHERD STAFF WRITER
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
4-H Congress officers included, from left, Speaker of the House Jacob Wade, Speaker of the Senate Emily Pennington and Governor Hannah Reeves, of Greeneville.
When Hannah Reeves, a senior at Greeneville High School, joined 4-H in fourth grade, little did she know she would meet a former president or achieve the state’s highest honor. All she knew was she loved it. “My love only grew for this organization when I got into high school and had a world of opportunities opened to me,” she said. 4-H is a global network of youth organizations with the mission of engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development, according to their website. It is a nonprofit organization and provides mentoring to nearly 6 million youths across the country. A highlight of Reeves’ career was getting to meet former President Jimmy Carter. She said she met
him in Plains, Georgia, last year and had the opportunity to listen to a Sunday school session he leads. “It was an amazing experience to meet a former president and hear about his term as president as we went around Plains learning about his humble beginnings,” she said. One of Reeves’ goals since she joined 4-H has been to win level two in personal development. In order to achieve level two, she had to send in her portfolio, which described everything she had done during her 4-H career. When she was selected to compete, Reeves had to send in her resume and go to a judging section where she discussed her 4-H career and answered any questions from the judges. She went to a Roundup event that focused on 4-H projects and competed against eight other people. She won. “Winning level two includes a silver bowl,
medal, a trip to national congress as well as a $1,000 scholarship, which is a huge help to my future considering that I want to be a veterinarian and need all the help I can to achieve my goal,” she said. Reeves said she always loved animals and volunteered at a local vet clinic during her freshman and sophomore years in high school. She is now a veterinary technician but would like to go further and become a doctor of veterinary medicine. While Reeves was at Roundup, she was also inducted into Vol State. Vol State is the highest honor a Tennessee 4-H-er can receive. It is the final step in the state’s three-level recognition program. Each county may recommend two members. Eligible members must be an active member, enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade, be an active 4-H all star and be in attendance at the Roundup.
Reeves also participated in 4-H Congress in November. This event is focused around leadership, citizenship and public speaking. She served as the 2017 Congress governor, a role that included representing Tennessee 4-H for the year she served on state Council, planning and orchestrating Congress and speaking to 4-H supporters. She was selected to be governor by first being elected in her region after giving a speech. She then gave two more speeches, a runoff, a thought provoking question and went through two rounds of voting. It has been a big year for Reeves and she hopes to remain a part of 4-H for many years to come. “I would love to do collegiate 4-H in college and continue to be active in 4-H by volunteering my time and experience,” she said.
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SUN FILE PHOTO
The 2016 Robert C. Austin Award was given to Dan and Linda Duggar, who were unable to attend the ceremony the previous year. Somehow the community was able to keep this award a secret, and the Duggars were pleasantly surprised as their names were called by Steve Hale.
SUN FILE PHOTO
The 2017 J.W. Massengill Award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture went to Tony Bird, left, of the Glenwood community. The award was given to Bird by Philip “P.B.” Bachman, Masengill’s grandson.
Farm-City Banquet Celebrates County’s Agriculture BY BIANCA MARAIS SPECIAL TO THE SUN Sitting shoulder-toshoulder, enjoying a wholesome meal, those in attendance at November’s 29th annual FarmCity Banquet, presented by the Greene County Partnership Agribusiness Committee, epitomized the meaning of community. Friends greeted one another and neighbors enjoyed the good-natured festivities of the night. The event attracted approximately 200 farmers, agricultural professionals and community members for an evening of fun, scholarship announcements, award presentations and a steak dinner at the Clyde Austin 4-H Center. “I was told I was going to be a speaker here tonight and I got nervous,” said Steve Hale, retired University of Tennessee Extension director. “We were not able to present the Robert C. Austin Award for Distinguished Service to Community last year because they did not show up,” joked Hale. “There was a bit of a ‘snaffoo’ but we got them here somehow. We are presenting the 2016 award this year.” The award was given to Dan and Linda Duggar who were both teachers with Greene County schools for 30 years. “I would like to recognize my granddaughter, because she was the only one who has not lied to me for the last year and a half. I had no idea,” joked Dan Duggar as he received the award. “We appreciate the honor tonight, it was a total surprise.” Tony Bird won the 2017 J.W. Massengill Award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture. The award was given to him by Philip “P.B.” Bachman, Massengill’s grandson. Some esteemed guests included State Rep. David Hawk and Greene Mayor David Crum among others. Melody Rose, chair of the Greene County Partnership’s Agribusiness Committee, pointed to her right and applauded Ronnie Sartain, who earlier in 2017 year retired after 37 years with Farm Credit Mid-America. “I am so proud to say that with the FFA Foundation here in Greene County, which started in 1993 and then started the scholarship a few years later, we have raised over $34,000 over the years,” said Sartain. Sartain congratulated Jacob Willis, of North Greene High School, and
Jerry Evans, of West Greene High School, for receiving the $1,000 scholarship from the FFA Foundation. He also awarded Jacob Willis and Walker Monsignor on the $1,000 scholarship given to them by the Greene County Livestock Association. Beef Day Celebration organizers recognized a high school student this year. “This is the first year that I am doing this,” said Emily Poe, chairperson of the Beef Day Celebration. “I put all the high schools in a cup and drew names.” Courtney Jessie, FFA reporter for West Greene High School, won that award. Sartain presented a slideshow made by the Agribusiness Committee for the year. During the slideshow, he explained the importance of agricultural tourism in Greene County and highlighted some local agricultural statistics. Greene County is the No. 1 county in beef cattle production in Tennessee. The state has 67,300 farms, making it No. 11 in the nation for number of farms. Over 40,000 families own cattle farms in Tennessee, according to a news release announcing the event. The cattle industry in Tennessee generates $860 million for family beef farms. Tennessee cattle farms supply consumers with 4.6 million quarter-pound hamburgers, 125 million pounds of roast, and 62 million pounds of steaks each year. The Agribusiness Com-
mittee hosts several events throughout the year. Kid’s Day on the Farm is held in October at the UT AgResearch & Education Center for third-graders in the city and county school systems. This event is held annually to teach local kids about daily aspects of farming. Every year Greeneville and Greene County celebrates dairy and beef producers with the June Dairy Days Celebration held in June and the Beef Day Celebration held in July with contests for all ages, entertainment and plenty of free dairy and beef products to sample. The Agribusiness Committee publishes a monthly newsletter of farm and gardening tips and includes important upcoming dates for the rural community. The Greene County Agriculture Today radio program, heard each Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. on 1340 WGRV AM, also provides information on current topics of interest to local farmers and others involved in agriculture. The radio program is also a service of the Agribusiness Committee. “We have got a lot of diverse agriculture in our community and our theme this year is ‘Celebrating the importance of agriculture to all citizens in Greeneville and Greene County,’” said Sartain. Sponsors for banquet event included Andrew Johnson Bank, George Mays, C & C Millwright Maintenance Company, Consumer Credit Union,
Delfasco, Farm Credit Mid-America, Greene County Soil Conservation District, Greene County Veterinary Medical Center, Greeneville Federal Bank, Greeneville Light & Power System, Greene County Farm Bureau, Heritage Community Bank, John Deere Power Products, First Tennessee Bank, Tusculum Farm Bureau-Wayne Hughes, The Greeneville Sun and Still Hollow Century Farm.
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GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Farmers Markets Will Remain At Separate Locations For 2018 BY LORELEI GOFF SPECIAL TO THE SUN Discussion that began in earnest last year to consolidate the area’s three farmers markets and receive the support of the Town of Greeneville is still alive. But it could be hampered by the move of the Greeneville Farmer’s Market to the Doak House Museum in Tusculum and the fact that Fox Park Fair organizers don’t want to move from their present site. City Administrator Todd Smith reiterated his comment from last year that he doesn’t think Greene County can support three markets. “If we could just take all these resources together and get everyone working together, I think the city at that point would be interested in doing some sort of a public structure,” Smith said, refering to a permanent location in the downtown area. Smith also noted that a farmers market is included in the downtown redevelopment plan he hopes will be released to the public in early April. Depot Street Market co-founder and President Mary Goldman said that organization is “very much in support of working with other markets to revitalize downtown. “We just want a community gathering place where people can support the local producers,” Goldman said. “We want to support local growers and have a vibrant downtown on Saturday mornings.” Goldman said a meeting set for March 28 has been coordinated through the UT Extension office to facilitate discussion between market managers from the three markets. A previous meeting set up for the same purpose was only attended by market managers from the Depot Street Market. Smith and Greeneville Alderman Jeff Taylor have been invited to represent the town at the March 28 meeting. Smith said he hopes the upcoming meeting “will go a long way to helping that process (to consolidate the markets).”
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
The Greeneville Farmers Market this year will set up in front of the Doak House Museum in Tusculum. It is open each Saturday during the season, beginning with its annual Mother’s Dat celebration kick-off on May 12.
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
The Fox Park Fair market meets each Friday during the season at Fox Park, across the street from the Andrew Johnson building in downtown Greeneville.
“In the meantime, Melody Rose from the (UT Extension Office) had been talking to somebody from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture who specializes in farmers markets,” Goldman said. “Apparently there is some TDA money out there for farmers markets or somekind of outdoor markets but — and we’ve heard this from day one — people couldn’t understand why we weren’t working together.” Goldman said if grant money became available for the Depot Street Market, it would likely be used to defray
“We salute the men & women in the agriculture industry.”
costs for a portable toilet, live music and “festivals to jazz up the Saturday mornings periodically.” One obstacle in the consolidation of the markets is that not all of the markets are true farmers markets that could be recognized for grants. “The Fox market isn’t something that someone would characterize as a farmers market because it sets up in an empty lot with no rules,” Goldman explained. “They would be considered a tailgate market.” Fox Park Fair market organizer Beth Foster said, “There
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
The Depot Street Farmers Market sets up on Depot Street each Saturday while in season. This year’s market is slated to open May 5.
is not too much difference in the two from what I can tell, but I suppose if we must choose a label, Fox Park could be a tailgate market.” Foster also said its a moot question because Fox Park isn’t moving from its current location. Goldman said she is anticipating another good year on Depot Street. “We had 25 vendors sign up last year and we’ve gotten a few calls from new vendors,” she said. A vendor meeting is scheduled for March 29 at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the
First Presbyterian Church. More information is available on the Depot Street Market Facebook page. Opening day is scheduled for May 5. Goldman anticipates there will be early season greens, plants and honey available. Greeneville Farmers Market Manager and CEO Judy Shelton disagrees with Smith’s assessment that the county can’t support three markets. “We’ve got plenty of people to support the markets, all three of them,” Shelton said. “We are more than willing to
support the community and the farmers and the entrepreneurs in our community.” Of the upcoming meeting she said, “We’re willing to listen to what the town of Greeneville has to say.” She confirmed the market is moving from the Greene County Fairgrounds to the Doak House Museum in Tusculum, saying, “It’s exciting for us. The move to the Doak house was made by all involved in the market, including vendors, because of the more visible location.” Dispelling rumors that the market’s name might change with the move out of Greeneville, Shelton said simply, “No name change.” The market will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. To 1 p.m starting May 12 with the annual Mother’s Day Celebration kick-off. She noted that the SNAP allotment will continue this year. “When you swipe your SNAP card for at least $20 for anything that is SNAP approved you can get up to $20 in free Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Tokens that can be used for fresh fruits and vegetables only,” she said. She anticipates a couple of new vendors, including one raising aquaponically and hydroponically grown lettuces and microgreens. All events are listed on the website, greenevillefarmersmarket.com, as well as applications to participate in those events or become a vendor. Fox Park Fair market organizer Beth Foster said everything at the corner of Main and McKee streets will be the same as last year. “I don’t have a firm opening date,” Foster said. “It’s just kind of weather dependent, although we do shoot for Friday on the last weekend in April to the first weekend of May. For our Tuesday market, again, it’s weather and crop dependent but typically by the end of June we have added in the Tuesdays at the same hours as we do the Fridays. Market hours are 2-5:30 p.m. More information is available on the Fox Park Fair Facebook page.
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