Debbie Sylvia-Gardner is the hard-working volunteer Market Manager for the Union County Farmers’ Market. It is her job to organize the weekly markets, assign spots, maintain records of each vendor's sales, and manage the various programs offered by the market. Market attendees may join the Loyalty Program. If you sign in at every visit, you receive a $5 Farmers’ Market Buck each time to spend with any vendor in the Market. Marketgoers may choose to borrow a pedometer at each visit as part of the Walking Program. The pedometers tabulate steps, and the wearer can earn $1-3 in Market Bucks for a specific number of steps taken that day. Some vendors prefer cash rather than credit cards, but Debbie can charge their card in exchange for Market Bucks, which can be spent like cash with any vendor attending the Market. The Market offers colorful cloth bags for sale for anyone who would prefer cloth to more plastic bags. The Market Manager has a great deal of responsibility in organizing each Market. Debbie stays incredibly busy, helping each day run smoothly for both vendors and visitors.

The Director of the Union County Senior Center / Office on Aging, Wendy Wood, was the Market Chef of the day. She wanted to demonstrate a fast, easy, no-cook, nutritious snack for the Farmers’ Market and chose No-Bake Peanut Butter Power Balls as her recipe. These are made with gluten-free rolled oats, peanut butter (or any nut butter of your choice), and chocolate chips (yum!). (The recipe for the Power Balls is in the photos.) Wendy was ably assisted by her mother, Lisa Holloway Cook. Lisa is the former Union County Schools cook and the present-day cook at the Senior Center. Our Senior Center offers a dynamic schedule of exercises and classes. It is geared for people aged 60 and older. Many opportunities are provided for seniors to stay active. Programs focus on health, fitness, recreation, and education, and they have outreach efforts to visit those who are isolated or living alone. There are satellite senior centers in Luttrell, Sharps Chapel, and Plainview that meet once or twice a month.

Leah works in the Marketing Department of the Knoxville Utility Board, and she was at this Market to answer any questions residents might have about KUB Fiber Optic internet. She had a spinning wheel for prizes, the most coveted one for the kiddos appeared to be bubbles! Leah wanted to let people know that KUB internet is $65/month (plus taxes). There are no installation or equipment fees and no contract. With the KUB ConnectEd program for students in K-12, income-eligible households receive KUB Fiber’s high-speed internet service at no cost. www.kub.org/kub-connected. KUB is currently providing free internet access to all at both the Farmers’ Market and Wilson Park.

Face painting started for Zuzia almost by accident. She painted characters on her siblings' faces at their birthday parties and realized she really enjoyed it. She’s been painting faces for over 2 years now and is getting more creative over time. She likes to sketch, and Zuzia often finds herself sketching people or animals. She has found that face painting is another outlet for her creativity and art. Her charges for painted faces range from $3 to $5 a face. She is on Facebook at Petals & Paint and can be reached at petalsandpaint.contact@gmail.com for parties and Trunk or Treat.

When you love barbequing and do it frequently for family and friends, it is just a short step to cooking BBQ for others. And that’s how Local Que got their start. Dad John Taylor started the business and is assisted now by his family. Son Jacob was at the Market this day, taking orders while his mom and sister were in the Heritage Culinary Commercial Kitchen preparing each dish. They often show up at pop-up events and offer catering as well. The BBQ is delicious, and the serving size is generous. Local Que can be reached at TheLocalQue@gmail.com or 865-765-8895

Farmers' markets provide fresh, seasonal produce directly from local growers. They benefit communities by delivering highly nutritious food, stimulating the local economy, supporting family farms, and lowering environmental impacts. Be sure not to miss the next one on Saturday from 9:00 – 1:00!