The Greer Farmers Market recently wrapped up its 11th core market season, welcoming more than 25,000 attendees.
The Greer Farmers Market is held each week at Greer City Park during its core market season, which covers summer and the early part of fall. This year, the market extended its season, adding three additional markets and running through the first of October.
“Every year has been better than the last, and this has been another wonderful year in Greer,” said Maggie Blair, executive director of the Greer Farmers Market. “We're really grateful that the community came together to support us for another year, and we're already looking forward to our 12th season.”
New elements at the market this year included an expanded vendor footprint and additional kids’ activities. Each market averaged 50 local farmers, makers and bakers — an increase from 40 last year.
The market also held several new events for attendees, including a Sidewalk Chalk Competition, Pumpkin Painting, Mushroom Day and En Plein Air Day. En Plein Air Day invited residents to come paint in the park. Blair said all four events are expected to make a return in future seasons.
For its food assistance programs, the Greer Farmers Market handed out nearly 1,700 POP Club vouchers, $5 vouchers that kids can spend on fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs or honey. This year, these vouchers were handed out to the first 50 children who came to the market.
“That has been a great program,” Blair said. “All of those vouchers are spent with our local farmers and vendors, which puts money in their pockets. And [it] helps introduce kids to produce and allows them to make their own choices about what they'd like to spend their voucher on, which is wonderful to see.”
The Greer Farmers Market’s next event will be its annual Chili Cookoff, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15. To learn more about the market or its programs, visit greerfarmersmarket.com.
