Watauga County Farmers' Market

August 2008

All photos and illustrations by Pat Johns ©2008 - present
All Rights Reserved
See links to article references in Resources.

For those who have not visited the Watauga County Farmers Market for a few years, a surprise awaits. Each Saturday a large, enthusiastic crowd of shoppers purchases the locally grown vegetables, flowers and other plants from the area. The support for this market has grown so substantially that parking attendants are needed to organize the crowd.

Their website (see link below) claims that they have the high country's best selection of:

• "Quality produce from local growers
• Fresh fruits and berries in season, jams, jellies, mustard and honey
• Fresh herbs and herbal products, including teas, salves, vinegars, soap and potpourri
• Flowers, fresh-cut and dried, wreaths and arrangements
• Fresh baked breads, cakes and pastries from our country kitchens
• Fresh farm eggs
• Farm based crafts: wool, birdhouses, pottery, baskets and handcrafted yard art and garden furniture
• A large selection of plants, including annuals, perennials and shrubs
• New and unique items every week"

Locally grown, sometimes organically-grown produce of all kinds is well displayed and reasonably priced. Visitors and vendors have developed relationships over the years which lend a re-union or party atmosphere to the market.

The Watauga County Farmers' Market has been in operation since 1974, and is located at the Horn In The West in Boone, North Carolina. They are open each Saturday until noon, rain or shine, early May through October.

For more information visit their website (link below).

Links related to this article:

• Watauga County Farmers Market website
• Horn in the West Theater
• LearnNC.com
• VisitBooneNC.com
• BlueRidgeHeritage.com
• HighCountryPress.com article about the Apple Festival