If you shop at the local Farmers’ Markets (Highlands Farmers’ Market in the Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park in Highlands or Locally Grown on the Green at 160 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers), you know them from the ground up. With the support of the farmers and the community, these markets continue to grow like butterweeds – but only the delicious, edible kind of greens.
Highlands Farmers’ Market has been active about 16 years. It was the inspiration of Andrea Gabbard. Along with mission groups from the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation and Highlands United Methodist Church, she and her husband Kevin went to Haiti with their son and daughter. The mission members, including Jane Chalker, were so moved by the experience, they wanted to continue helping the Haitians, so they sold flowers weekly to raise money to return.
That launched the first Farmers Market at the Highlands Park (before it was Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park). Others joined, selling everything from produce to a variety of goods, like thrift items and crafts. Many at the park contributed to the Haitian cause.
One of the remarkable spin-offs of the mission is that five members of different mission groups have gone into ministry.
Highlands Farmers Market shifted locations a few times before settling at the newest version of the original space, Kelsey-Hutchinson. Over the years they moved from the park to Highlands School’s front driveway to Bryson’s parking lot and back to the park as it’s known today.
Jane continues to support the cause by selling Haitian coffee and handcrafted metal work, both manufactured by the locals of Haiti.
The market also features a table manned by Dr. John Baumrucker which raises funds for his ongoing Bolivian mission that serves the people of Montero.
While the Highlands Market continues to blossom, a few policies have changed. New members must be vendors only of local, fresh, hand-grown/prepared food and plants. No crafts, art, stitchery, etc. Just edibles or flowers.
Visit on Saturdays, 8:00 A.M. until 12:30 P.M. If want to join this historical gang, contact Don Deal at (828) 342-8239.
Pictured | Andrea Gabbard and Jane Chalker
Favorites Count: 0