The Newport Farmers Market is open for business for its third year and things are looking bright. Vendors and customers alike seem pleased with the opportunity to buy and share their goods, including fruits, vegetables, plants, and more.
The market is a seasonal project for a number of local organizations who work together to provide the facilities and needed materials to keep it open.
Thanks to the graces of the city of Newport, restroom facilities are on site, the NEDC allows the use of the parking lot at 201 Hazel Street, DRIVE provides shade with the use of canopies, the USDA assists in locating grants, the Cooperative Extension aides the vendors and customers with information on their products and other resources, and the Ozark Foothills RC&D handles the finances.
"It really is a joint effort," NEDC Executive Director Jon Chadwell said. "Each participant supplies a piece of the puzzle to make this work."
According to Lisa Barker, the market has seen an expansion from six vendors to 15 vendors and even more customers. Some vendors have even begun selling their products on Wednesday at the market.
"The vendors and customers seem happy," she said, explaining that the success of the market has been attributed to the operations, which rely on a set of bylaws and rules and volunteers like Market Manager Ann Hearn who keep things running smoothly.
"It's interesting how people get to be friends with the vendor," Chadwell added. "It's neat to get to know the people who grew the food we're eating."
The next project on the list is the Celebrity Waiter/Waitress Fundraising Dinner scheduled for next Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Newport Country Club. Come out and enjoy a great meal and have your every need supplied by a pair of local celebrities, working for the appropriate tips of course. Tickets cost $20 per person. You can choose the team you'd like to have serve you as long as there is space remaining at their table. Teams include: Jon Chadwell/Sheridan Cole, Julie Allen/John Watson, Judy Beard/Thomas Crosslin, Brenda Benish/Tara Byrd, Jamie Darling/Ike Wheeler, John Pennington/Ronny Brown, Frank/Charlotte Plegge, Steve/Mary Reid, David Stewart/Linda Treadway, Kerry/Patty Tharpe, Tom Uehling/Lauren McDonald, and Bentley/Darby Wallace.
To reserve tickets, contact Shirley Williams at either 870-523-1009 or assistant@newportaredc.org. You can either pay when you reserve your spot, mail a check to the Farmer's Market Association at 201 Hazel Street, Newport, AR 72112, or give your payment for the tickets at the door. Make all checks payable to Ozark Foothills RC&D.
Newport's Farmers Market is just one more asset to the city that has brought recognition to the area, with other markets calling to find out what makes it work.
"It's a great compliment to the city," Chadwell said.
This Saturday's choices at the Farmers Market include a variety of potatoes, a variety of onions, cabbage, zucchini, yellow squash, variety of peppers, lemon cucumber, other cucumbers, okra, ripe tomatoes, variety of corn, carrots, lima beans, peaches, green beans, honey, sorghum, jams, pickles, variety of plants for butterflies and humming birds, gourd plants, mimosa, variety of grasses, coleus, wandering jew hanging plants, red and pink periwinkle, diathus, variety of canna, mini black elephant ear, hardy hibiscus, and more.
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The Newport Farmers Market is open for business for its third year and things are looking bright. Vendors and customers alike seem pleased with the opportunity to buy and share their goods, including fruits, vegetables, plants, and more.
The market is a seasonal project for a number of local organizations who work together to provide the facilities and needed materials to keep it open.
Thanks to the graces of the city of Newport, restroom facilities are on site, the NEDC allows the use of the parking lot at 201 Hazel Street, DRIVE provides shade with the use of canopies, the USDA assists in locating grants, the Cooperative Extension aides the vendors and customers with information on their products and other resources, and the Ozark Foothills RC&D handles the finances.
"It really is a joint effort," NEDC Executive Director Jon Chadwell said. "Each participant supplies a piece of the puzzle to make this work."
According to Lisa Barker, the market has seen an expansion from six vendors to 15 vendors and even more customers. Some vendors have even begun selling their products on Wednesday at the market.
"The vendors and customers seem happy," she said, explaining that the success of the market has been attributed to the operations, which rely on a set of bylaws and rules and volunteers like Market Manager Ann Hearn who keep things running smoothly.
"It's interesting how people get to be friends with the vendor," Chadwell added. "It's neat to get to know the people who grew the food we're eating."
The next project on the list is the Celebrity Waiter/Waitress Fundraising Dinner scheduled for next Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Newport Country Club. Come out and enjoy a great meal and have your every need supplied by a pair of local celebrities, working for the appropriate tips of course. Tickets cost $20 per person. You can choose the team you'd like to have serve you as long as there is space remaining at their table. Teams include: Jon Chadwell/Sheridan Cole, Julie Allen/John Watson, Judy Beard/Thomas Crosslin, Brenda Benish/Tara Byrd, Jamie Darling/Ike Wheeler, John Pennington/Ronny Brown, Frank/Charlotte Plegge, Steve/Mary Reid, David Stewart/Linda Treadway, Kerry/Patty Tharpe, Tom Uehling/Lauren McDonald, and Bentley/Darby Wallace.
To reserve tickets, contact Shirley Williams at either 870-523-1009 or assistant@newportaredc.org. You can either pay when you reserve your spot, mail a check to the Farmer's Market Association at 201 Hazel Street, Newport, AR 72112, or give your payment for the tickets at the door. Make all checks payable to Ozark Foothills RC&D.
Newport's Farmers Market is just one more asset to the city that has brought recognition to the area, with other markets calling to find out what makes it work.
"It's a great compliment to the city," Chadwell said.
This Saturday's choices at the Farmers Market include a variety of potatoes, a variety of onions, cabbage, zucchini, yellow squash, variety of peppers, lemon cucumber, other cucumbers, okra, ripe tomatoes, variety of corn, carrots, lima beans, peaches, green beans, honey, sorghum, jams, pickles, variety of plants for butterflies and humming birds, gourd plants, mimosa, variety of grasses, coleus, wandering jew hanging plants, red and pink periwinkle, diathus, variety of canna, mini black elephant ear, hardy hibiscus, and more.
