Fresh fruit, veggies, and herbs, oh my!
Without farmers, we would have no food in our bellies. What they do, their work in the soil, is imperative to our survival! Luckily for us, Chattanooga has many options when it comes to eating local, supporting our farmers, and building relationships within our community. It’s one of the reasons I love living here so much–on any given day of the week, you can visit one of our farmers’ markets and buy locally grown and harvested produce (and enjoy other fun things like art, crafts, live music, beer, jams, and baked goods).
Or if you’re too indecisive like me (because you want to buy ALL the fresh fruits and veggies and herbs), then sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share program and the farmers will do the picking for you in your weekly box of seasonal goodies. In case you’re unfamiliar with CSA share programs, here’s the lowdown:
Local/regional farms grow seasonal produce, they pack you a box of whatever they harvest that week (many give you the option to select your fruits/veggies/herbs ahead of time, based on what they have available), you pick up your box at a local farmers’ market, then you take it home and try not to eat it all that day!
You pay an up-front cost of a few hundred bucks (I know that seems like a lot, but if you think about how much you spend over time on produce it’s not a bad price), and you get fresh, locally grown, seasonal produce. And you’re supporting our farmers and community sustainability! Most CSA share programs for Spring 2016 have ended their sign-ups, but some still have fall/winter sign-ups available!
Now, get yourself down to the market and try not to spend all of your money–I dare you!
Farmers’ Markets
Brainerd Farmers’ Market: Saturdays from 11AM-1PM at Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Chattanooga Market on Sundays from 11AM-4PM at the First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Carter Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408. Opening weekend is April 23-24, 2016!
Chattanooga River Market on Saturdays from 10AM-5PM at the Tennessee Aquarium Plaza, 1 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Collegedale Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4PM-7PM at the Collegedale Commons, 4950 Swinyar Drive, Collegedale, TN 37363
Cambridge Square Night Market on Fridays from 5PM-8PM at Cambridge Square, 9453 Bradmore Lane, Ooltewah, TN 37363
Mondays from 4PM-7PM at the Red Bank Methodist Church, 3800 Dayton Boulevard, Red Bank, TN 37415
Tuesdays from 4PM-7PM at the Audubon Acres, 900 North Sanctuary Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Fridays from 4PM-7PM at the St. Elmo Incline, 3917 St. Elmo Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37409
Main Street Farmers Market: 325 E. Main Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408, Wednesdays year-round from 4PM-6PM
Ooltewah Farmers Market: Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., 5829 Main Street, Ooltewah, TN 37363, Thursdays year-round from 3PM-6PM (Apr-Oct) and 3PM-5PM (Nov-Mar)
Signal Mountain Farmers’ Market: 1210 Taft Highway, Signal Mountain, TN 37377, Thursdays from 4PM-6PM (April 21, 2016-November 2016) and 3:30PM-5PM (starting December 1, 2016)
St. Alban’s Hixson Market: St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 7514 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343, Saturdays year-round from 9:30AM-12:30PM
CSA Share Programs
Big Sycamore Farm: Decatur, TN, CSA Share for $475, pick-up at the Ooltewah Farmers Market on Thursdays or at the Brainerd Farmers’ Market on Saturdays
Circle S Farm: Rising Fawn, GA, CSA Share (1/2 size) for $200 or (full-size) for $350, pick-up at the Main Street Farmers Market on Wednesdays
Fall Creek Farms: Spencer, TN, CSA Share (2/3 size) for $450 or (full-size) for $720, pick-up at the Main Street Farmers Market on Wednesdays
Farm 58: Dunlap, TN, CSA Share is $33.50 per box, pick-up at Calvary Chapel, 3415 S. Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN, 37409 on Saturdays from 3:30PM-8:30PM
Hoe Hop Valley Farm: Benton, TN, Chicken Club CSA Share is $20.00 per week, pick-up at the Main Street Farmers Market on Wednesdays
Natural Ways Homestead: Chickamauga, GA, CSA share (1/2) for $350 and (full) for $600. 25 week season from May 11th through October 26th. Pickup on Wednesdays. Contact by email: [email protected]
Signal Mountain Farms: Signal Mountain, TN, CSA Share (1/2 size) for $464 or (full-size) for $718, pick-up at seven Chattanooga locations, search here
Spring Creek Veggies: Riceville, TN, CSA Shares on a membership basis, with initial membership fees of $10.00 or $20.00 to start your account, read more Spring Creek Veggies CSA PDF
Tant Hill Farm: LaFayette, GA, CSA Shares range from $190-380 depending on the season
