Farmer's Market ushers in summer season

The good, old summer time appears to have started early in the Eagle Valley.

Not only has Mother Nature bucked the seasonal calendar by introducing mid-summer temperatures approaching 100 degrees, but the 3rd and Curry Farmer's Market welcomes its 2016 season Saturday in downtown Carson City.

Marketing Manager Linda Marrone said the summer-long event, occurring each Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. now through Sept. 24 in the parking lot at the corner of Third and Curry streets, traditionally draws large crowds every year and she expects 2016 to be no exception.

"We see about 1,500-plus visitors at the market weekly and each year the market sees an increase in traffic," she said. "The 3rd & Curry Street Farmer's Market has become a social event where people gather to buy fresh produce and vegetables, have a bite to eat and a cup of coffee, meet up with friends, listen to music and certainly is the place to be on Saturday morning." 

The 3rd and Curry Farmer's Market features more than 40 vendors this year, Marrone said, offering everything from fresh, ripe, seasonal produce to home and garden products, as well as personal services.

Some are returning vendors and some are new, she said.

"We have over eight new vendors and artisans that will be offering everything from Reiki chair massage to new food offerings," Marrone said. "We are really happy to have a knife and scissor sharpener returning to the market, and he will be there every week taking care of our customers who bring their knives to the farmer's market to be sharpened."
 
Most agricultural products at the 3rd and Curry Farmer's Market will continue to come from Nevada growers, Marrone said, whether it's fresh produce, locally raised meat, or local grown honey.

"We have nine Nevada farmers with a new Nevada farmer this year, Fruit First Sustainable Farms from Fallon," she said. "Our five California farmers that bring strawberries, raspberries and other fruit will be returning as well."

Besides being the place to go Saturday mornings for fresh-grown produce and live musical entertainment, Marrone said the 3rd and Curry Farmer's Market has traditionally been a great place to get connected with many of the area's local non-profit organizations.

She said the non-profit presence will continue to felt during the 2016 season, too.

"Non-profits have always been a part of the farmer's market," Marrone said, "We welcome back Muscle Powered Bike Valet, The Do Drop In, The Greenhouse Project, Empty Bowls, SPCA, and Jazz and Beyond, just to name a few."

Also continuing this year is the partnership between the 3rd and Curry Farmer's Market and Partnership Carson City, which is helps SNAP/food stamp recipients afford greater access to fresh food, Marrone said.

"The farmer's market has been shown to stimulate local economies, increasing access to fresh food for everyone, including seniors and SNAP recipients," she said. "Once again this year we are partnering with Partnership Carson City and encouraging SNAP customers to shop at the farmer's market by giving them added value for every dollar they spend."

Food stamp recipients last year were able to double the value of their SNAP dollars at the 3rd and Curry Saturday Morning Farmer's Market, Marrone said, and that program continues again this year.

Basically, SNAP dollars are matched at the farmer's market, so consumers end up with twice the amount they spend there.

"We are able to do this with grant money and staff support from Partnership Carson City," Marrone said. "We partnered with Feds Feed Familes and the USDA during Farmers Market Week where we collected over 700 pounds of produce that was donated to FISH and Ron Woods Family Resource Center."

For more information about the 3rd and Curry Farmer's Market, including a list of vendors and seasonal produce available each month, visit the event's web site here, or find it on Facebook.