The winter season can feel very long to those who love fresh fruits and vegetables. But luckily for Cleveland County residents, the Foothills Farmers' Winter Markets provide a taste of winter produce along with locally raised meats, cheeses, baked goods, goats' milk soap, jams, jellies, herbal teas and seasoning blends.
And, as if all that were not enough, at the last winter market of the 2019 season, on Saturday, March 9, 2019, you can also enjoy a local breakfast prepared by Chef Wes Allen of Newgrass Brewing Company. The market and the breakfast will be hosted at Newgrass, located at 213 S. Lafayette St., Shelby.
"Newgrass is excited to host the Market and serve breakfast, again utilizing ingredients that can be found for sale in the brewery during the Foothills Farmers' Winter Market," says Roger Holland. "Our executive chef, Wes Allen, always has something delicious and exciting coming out of our kitchen for breakfast for our farmers' market friends."
Foothills Farmers' Market Director Carol Maxwell says the breakfast offerings have proven very popular at this year's winter markets.
"We encourage folks not to wait too late for breakfast," she says. "Because once breakfast is gone, it's gone. In fact, the past few times breakfast sold out before 10 a.m."
While enjoying breakfast, shoppers will be able to select from a wide variety of produce and other products from a number of different vendors.
"While it's not practical for us to continue an outdoor market during the winter season, many of our vendors still have products to share with customers," says Maxwell.
The Winter Market began in 2016 as a way to connect customers with farmers over the winter months.
"Most of our farmers encourage local residents to come out to the individual farms to pick up items during the colder months," says Maxwell, "but the Winter Market gives shoppers a chance to stock up on things from several farms at one time."
Maxwell says that many vendors will also arrange preorders of special quantities for delivery at the Winter Market.
For farmers or other local vendors interested in participating in the market in the future, the Foothills Farmers' Market board of directors is now taking applications for the 2019 season. All items sold at the market must be grown or raised within a 50-mile radius of Cleveland County and can include produce, meats, eggs, baked goods, cheeses, honey, artisan crafts made from locally sourced elements, and prepared foods.
For more information about the March 9 Winter Market, to get a vendor application, or for more information about becoming a vendor, visit www.foothillsfarmersmarket.com
or find the Market on Facebook by searching for "Foothills Farmers' Market."

By April Hoyle-Shauf Special to Community First Media