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Marketplace’s Fall Bounty
Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: 2020/09 – September
One of the surprising bright spots in all the Covid-19 chaos has been that the Highlands Marketplace has enjoyed an uptick in interested shoppers since its delayed opening the last Saturday in June.
Don Deal, a local farmer and current organizer for the Highlands Marketplace, said the 15-year-old Saturday market has seen steady attendance and sales and is expected to continue to do so through the fall harvest.
Running through October, Highlands Marketplace is staged every Saturday from 8 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
“We typically have about 15 vendors or so,” said Deal. They come from the greater Macon County and Jackson areas mostly, but a few are from South Carolina and Georgia.”
Some of the produce is so fresh it is picked the night before the market or earlier that morning.
Some of the vegetables and fruit expected in the fall include squashes, greens, beets, potatoes, apples, plums, and much more.
Also available are flowers, fresh eggs, homemade breads, pastries, pies, quiches, jams, jellies, relishes, and dips. Patrons can buy in bulk to can or freeze or take produce home to create farm-to-table meals. Plus, there are often homemade craft items, such as soaps and pottery – to name a few.
“It’s interesting to see the market attended even more this year,” said Deal. “I think some people have been trying to avoid grocery stores, keep their immune systems up, and stay healthy, so the local market meets those needs. We get pretty close to selling out every week. The market is visited by lots of vacationers and seasonal residents, but also by locals.”
Deal added that Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park “is a good venue for Highlands Marketplace because it’s in the center of town and there is a lot of walking traffic.”
To maintain pandemic health safety standards, Deal informed that vendors wear masks and social distancing is recognized by both vendors and customers. And, there is hand sanitizer aplenty.
