Gravette Community Guide

10 | 2023 Gravette Community Guide a truly local farmers market By Randy Rice Special to Gravette Community Guide It's growing season again and many local vendors are already hard at work. Most started their seeds in early January in preparation for the upcoming Gravette Farmers Market, so they'll be ready to present their goods when the market opens in mid- to late-April. e Gravette Farmers Market is organized and run by local volunteer farmers. is season marks its 16th year of operation. "We have like a co-manager situation and hold meetings throughout the year," explained local vendor Beth Patton, who has owned Patton Farms with her husband, Jack, since 1993. "It was a great venue for us to sell what we produce, plus we all felt the market had become an important part of the Gravette community." e Gravette Farmers Market only sells products that are locally produced. "We only sell what is produced within a 60-mile radius," Patton said. "So, it's not like we're shipping anything in from outside the region. In the spring, you get what grows here in the spring, like spinach, onions and radishes, and the cold crops like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Whatever is seasonal, whatever is grown at the time, is what you will find at the market." All the farmers who sell vegetables are signed up with the WIC program that provides extra help to underserved mothers and their children. e market also participates in a senior nutrition program. By participating in these programs, the farmers market is "able to ensure more people have access to locally grown produce who may not have been able to afford it," Patton said. Patton Farms has been a vendor at the Gravette Farmers Market since it opened in 2008. ey grow grassfed Angus beef and pork, and also have a large garden. "We sell meat at the market," Patton said. "We go to a USDA butcher and comply with all Arkansas health department rules and regulations." e organizers make sure the vendors are varied so customers have a wider choice of products. McBride Apiary, for instance, sells their locally produced, award-winning honey at the Gravette Farmers Market. "A lot of people claim to sell locally grown honey, but it is really from out of the area," Patton said. "is is honey produced just about seven or eight miles away from the site of the market. People just love it!" e Gravette Farmers Market is held in the pavilion at Old Town Park, located at 110 Park Drive. e space was built with grant funds the city received from the USDA Farmers Market Promotional Program. ere are currently 16 vendors signed up for this year's market. "We also sometimes have a vendor that might just be there for a weekend," Patton added. "For instance, last year the Benton County Master Gardeners Association came and put up a booth and was handing out informational material about gardening and related topics. Another example is a vendor who comes only in the spring to sell berries." e Gravette Farmers Market is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday and runs through the first freeze in the fall. It welcomes about 200 visitors each weekend. Most Saturdays a string band sets up and begins playing around 10 a.m. It's a fun event for the whole family and a great Billy V Hall Senior Activity & Wellness Center Proud Member of the Gravette Community Providing Food, Fun, Entertainment & Wellness Programs Come by and see what we have to offer -Lunch Served Daily- Monday-Friday 11:30am-12:15pm Located at 1870 Limekiln Rd A Meals on Wheels Provider Like Our Healthy Communities On Facebook! Give us a call at (479) 787-5950 or go on our webpage at www.ohcnwa.org/gravette 112 1st Ave NE Gravette, AR 72736 • 479-787-1097 https://libertyutilities.com/ libertyenergyandwater.com Sustaining energy and water for life

• Cover