Abingdon Farmers Market

Vendors

                                                                    

Abingdon Organics is run by Anthony and Laurel Flaccavento near Abingdon. Among the first certified organic vendors at the Abingdon Farmers Market, they have now been selling nearly two dozen types of vegetables and fruits for the past five years. Specialties of Abingdon Organics include over a dozen types of heirloom tomatoes, old world Italian sauce tomatoes, colorful squashes and peppers, and extra sweet strawberries, cantaloupes and watermelons. They also sell through Appalachian Harvest.

                                                                                     

Foster Farms has been selling at the AFM longer than most folks can remember!  You can find Charlie and Doris Foster every Saturday and most Tuesdays (during produce season) at the market.  They'll be selling a variety of vegetables at the market this season.  These include, beans, potatoes, onions, corn, beets, okra, tomatoes, spinach, greens, peas, lettuce, sweet potatoes, squash, cucumbers, cabbage, and eggplant.

                                             

Grandview Farm in Abingdon is operated by the Kling Family, John, Barbara, Jennifer, Carl and Susan. Using organic methods to produce fruits and vegetables, they also pasture raise livestock without antibiotics or hormones. They produce a variety of products including garlic, peas, tomatoes, squash, blueberries, lamb, wool, yarn, felted wool, sheepskins and felt animals. They also sell lambs for breeding.

                                                                                     

Watson's Greenhouse and Produce is another vendor that you will see at market, rain or shine, EVERY weekend!  Their products are all homegrown and are always picked fresh.  In the spring, they have lots of bedding plants and hanging baskets.  In the summer and fall, they have all kinds of vegetables, beans, squash, cabbage, peppers, onions, and beets—just to mention a few!  They also always have fresh eggs.  Stop by and talk to Louis or Amanda any time and you'll feel much better knowing that your food is produced by such kind and wholesome folks!

                                                                                     

L & B Produce and Baked Goods is a brother and sister duo just outside of Abingdon who enjoy spending time together at market as well as on the farm!  You can find them any Saturday morning and most Tuesday evenings once produce comes in.  They will be selling garden vegetables, berries, walnuts, baked goods, homemade crafts, and farm-fresh eggs!  According to Lionel and Brenda they enjoy babying their chickens to ensure a good supply of eggs.  They just ask that you not tell the other animals on their farm!  Brenda also takes special orders on her cakes and home made goodies!

                                                                   

Ault Farms is run by Ed Ault and his family.  They are all at the market every Saturday selling produce as well as birdhouses and many other hand-crafted wooden creations.  If it can be built, Ed can do it!  Ed also puts just as much time doing research on the intended purpose of his creations as he does construction.  For instance, blue wrens are built houses suitable to their needs as well as bats to their needs!  Stop by and see Ed.  Talk to him about your needs and you can be sure he'll suit them!

Kelli Mehl's Bakery and Pantry is a small, family-run business right here in southwest Virginia.  Every week, you can find a smorgesborg of canned and baked goods ranging from canned fruits, peanut butter, veggies, jams, and jellies to baked goods including bagels (you can even have them toasted while you peruse the market), bialys, and breads.  They seek to get good, local ingredients for their products and prepare them in their state and FDA inspected kitchen.  

Southfork Greenhouses is located just south of Chilhowie and is operated by Tom and Joyce Hawthorne. In business for over 30 years, Southfork offers a variety of flowers, plants and herbs including spring annuals, bedding plants, hanging baskets, herbs, perennials, mums and asters in the fall.  Come by and talk to Joyce about her kitchen herb gardens that are available for purchase.  She can tell you all about the different herbs and will even send you home with "cheat sheet" on how to best utilize your new herb garden!

Rich Valley Grazers located in Saltville is a 5th generation family farm that has been raising cattle in sync with nature for over a decade.  Everything from breed of cattle to calving season is carefully planned to maximize natural resources and minimize outside inputs.  They have been recognized for environmental stewardship with several awards over the years.  All of Rich Valley Grazer's meat is grass-finished and free of both antibiotics and steroids.  Stop by on any Saturday and talk to Will Clark.  He'll explain to you how you can taste a difference in meat when it is "born and grazed in Southwest Virginia"!

River Valley Farm is operated by David King and family and is located alongside the north fork of the Holston River.  There he and his wife, Barbara, and their 7 children ages 6 to 20 work side-by-side as theirs is a family run operation.  On a typical day you might see David plowing his fields using horses- a very exciting thing to see-while the children take care of various farm chores and Barbara canning and preserving various fruits and vegetables.  Although River Valley Farm has the advantage of fertile river bottom land, the Kings have taken good care of the soil and improved the land using natural methods and their produce is Certified Organic.  The Kings started selling at the market 10 years ago in Abingdon before it was an official market with its official name:  Abingdon Farmers Market.  They have been selling regularly there ever since with a wide array of products including spring-summer-fall organic crops, berries and fresh cut herbs.  Barbara arranges beautiful bouquets which you can also find most weeks.

Harvest Gardens is operated by Reverend Robert and Maudie Campbell.  They offer fresh produce, baked goods, and farm fresh eggs.  Reverend Campbell also has quite a knack for furniture construction and will bring pieces occasionally as he has the time to build them.  He does take special orders also so stop by and talk to him about your furniture needs.  Ask them about their chickens as well.  They love to talk "chicken" with you!

                                                                       

SCRATCH BAKERY  (also known as Scratch Foodworks) brings an amazing selection of bread every Saturday and they run out of foccacia very early!  The bakery is owned by John and Jamie Wrestler and they make their bread by their name….from scratch.  Their bakery is located at Exit 33 off I-26 in Johnson City, TN, at Unaka Avenue and Roan Street.  They built a wood fired brick oven which is part of their secret to success for their baked goods.  They invite you to also visit them in Johnson City Thursdays through Saturdays from 7am to 7pm where they serve food of all sorts including sandwiches and pizzas.  They have no set menu; it changes frequently which provides lots of fun and interest for their customers.

More of the Abingdon Farmers Market vendors to be listed soon!

If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the Abingdon Farmers Market, please contact Tom Peterson at 276-623-1121.

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