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Monday, May 04, 2009 10:39 AM Market opens to good crowd By Stephanie Creech | Times Senior Writer Flowers, collards and eggs. Those were the main products Janice Howard and her son, Kevin, had to offer customers Saturday at the opening day of the Wilson Farmers Market at the Wilson County Fairgrounds. Janice Howard said she thought turnout for the first day had been fine. In fact, she was surprised by how many people came out given it's still early in the local growing season. Like other growers, Howard is looking forward to the coming weeks when she will have more produce, like tomatoes, potatoes, squash and peppers, ready to sell. Howard said cantaloupes also sold well for them at the market last year. Vendors were under the new shelter that was completed Friday. The market received a $20,000 grant from the Rural Advancement Foundation International via the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund to make the improvements. The Wilson County Fair Board also pitched in an additional $4,000 to $5,000 to replace tin on the existing shelter so it would match the red tin roof on the new part of the shelter. This is the market's second year of operation. Loumis Hinnant was one of Howard's customers. Hinnant purchased a dozen eggs during his second trip to the market Saturday. Earlier that morning, Hinnant bought strawberries and took them home. But he decided to return and buy eggs because he knew they were fresh. Hinnant, who is the former manager of the fairgrounds, said he's glad the market is there, and he thinks it should do well this year. "This is ideal here," Hinnant said. Jerry and Gay Manning of Wilson stopped at the Tar River Micro booth and bought a bag full of lettuce. The couple shopped at the market last year and decided to return this year. Gay Manning said they like the fresh fruits and vegetables and want to help support the local community. Vendors are counting on people wanting access this summer to fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables this year. Bill Rowley runs Tar River Micro with his wife, Kellie. Their farm is located between Wilson and Rocky Mount near the Rocky Mount Wilson Airport. Rowley had a nice mixture of gourmet lettuce, edible flowers, pea shoots and other items. Customers could purchase lettuce by the head or make a mixture. Bill Rowley said he's been selling at the farmers market in Rocky Mount for the past five years. They tried the market in Wilson last year and decided to return this year. The couple will sell at both markets this year. Ellen Sullivan of Rocky Mount also plans to alternate between markets this year. She will have her purses and items for sell in Wilson and at the farmers market in Cary. Sullivan said the turnout had been OK for opening day. She'd had some traffic at her booth and was thankful the weather was cooperating. Sullivan said she'd watched the weather Friday night and thought "just give us to noon, God" before it rains. creech@wilsontimes.com | 265-7822 |
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