T.J. ROYAL
The Tarboro Edgecombe Farmers Market would be open Saturdays beginning July 18, The Edgecombe County Extension Service announced Thursday.
Extension Agent Bob Filbrun, who is in charge of the farmers market this year, said the market is going to "give it a try" on Saturdays in hopes of attracting even more vendors and buyers to Albemarle Avenue in Tarboro.
Filbrun said the market would expand its hours from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, with a different theme taking place each week. On July 18, he said free hot dogs would be served, and that he is also trying to have face-painting other weekends, "to get the kids involved," as well.
Once fall rolls around, Filbrun said he expects to have some pumpkin-painting activities.
"We're trying to plan (to) have a little bit of an event" when the market is open on the weekend, he added.
The farmers market, currently open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7-10 a.m., had to close before the summer ended last year, due to the exceptional dry weather reducing crop outputs.
This year, Filbrun said the market has been "gaining steam" since it opened on May 22. Seven different vendors showed their vegetables on Tuesday, with vendors from different parts of the county beginning to show, he said. A Pitt County baker has been coming and selling their baked goods at the market.
Filbrun also said that he expects more buyers and vendors to show up once tomatoes start producing on their vines within the next couple of weeks. So far sweet corn has started being harvested, Filbrun said, and would continue to be brought, provided the crops can receive some rain.
"That's what we're kind of counting on," moisture to relieve the plants from the 90-degree weather, he added.
"Everybody needs to be doing a rain dance" for the benefit of the crops and the farmers market, Filbrun said.
