VENDORS EXCITED ABOUT HOLIDAY MARKETS

By Kevin Starr
Lincoln County Cooperative Extension Agent



If the phone calls are any indication, we are going to have a good number of vendors at our Holiday Markets on Saturday, November 22. Some of the folks who are calling have not sold at our farmers markets before. So this column is dedicated to informing potential first-time vendors about the market guidelines.

But first, I want to remind you again of the current status of the markets. The Lincolnton market is still operating on Saturdays only and will close after the November 22 market. The Denver location is closed for the regular season but will open again for one day only on November 22.

Now let’s look at the guidelines. Anyone who lives in Lincoln or a county which borders Lincoln may sell their own home-grown produce and plants as well as homemade crafts. Homemade baked goods, jams and jellies are allowed as long as they were produced in a kitchen inspected by the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You must furnish written proof of this inspection. Pickles and acidified foods are another matter. In order to sell these products, you must also complete an “Acidified Foods Class” given by N.C. State University. We can provide more information on both these requirements.

The Lincolnton Market is on West Water Street in Lincolnton near the James W. Warren Citizens Center. There is a shelter and spaces are marked. Some spaces are reserved for regular vendors. If the shelter can’t hold all the vendors, they will be designated a space outside. This location opens at 7:00 a.m.
The Denver market is held at Rock Springs Elementary School and no shelter is provided. This market will open at 8:00 a.m. The fee at both markets is $10 the first day a vendor sells and $5 a day thereafter. Fees are collected by Master Gardener volunteers who coordinate the markets. Vendors provide their own tables at both locations.

If you are planning on selling at either of our Holiday Markets, please call us at 704-736-8461. This will help us with the publicity and planning for November 22.