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Washington
County News
Apr 14, 2009
By CAITLIN SULLIVAN/Staff
The land is thawing and the plants stirring. It’s that
time of year again.
Saturday marks the opening day for the Abingdon Farmers Market.
Certified organic produce, grass-fed and farm-fresh meats, homemade baked
goods, honey, jam, jellies and canned goods, eggs, artwork, crafts, plants and
flowers will be on the table.
Ten additional vendors will join the ranks this year, bringing the total number
of sellers to 44. New vendors include Abingdon Winery, chocolatiers Earth
& Sky Confections, new produce farmers and prepared food vendors with items
such as donuts and cakes for sale.
Market Manager Sara Cardinale said buying at the Abingdon Farmers Market is
more affordable, especially if you usually buy organic produce in grocery
store. Plus, she said, it helps the local economy.
“When you buy from a local farmer he then uses those local dollars to fix his
car from a local mechanic who then buys bread locally and then that money goes
back to what you do in the community,” she said.
Cardinale said those dollars spent locally stay in the community and in turn
help the local economy.
“We don’t want to lose any more jobs locally so the best way to help the local
economy is to go out and spend locally,” she said.
The market is in its eighth year in Abingdon. It officially began in 2001 with
six vendors in the parking lot next to the Penn-Field House
Museum. Later it moved to
the Latture Field lot. Two years ago the market found a permanent home at the
newly built Abingdon Market Pavilion on corner of Cummings Street and Remsburg Drive.
In addition to food vendors, the Abingdon Farmers Market also often has free
music and cooking demonstrations.
“It’s a real economical way to have family entertainment on the weekend,” she
said. “We have a real vibrant farmers market that other markets try to model
off of.”
Abingdon Farmers Market runs from April 18 through Nov. 21 on Tuesdays from 4
to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon.
For more information visit http://www.abingdonfarmersmarket.net
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