Now in Season

Summer is FINALLY in full swing and that means relaxing in a lawn chair, taking the kiddos for a swim, and picnicking but one of the best parts of summer can be found at our local farmer’s market!  Stock up on your favorite fruits, vegetables, and shop for beautiful flowers for your garden.  The starting line-up includes berries, sweet corn, green onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, summer squash, zucchini, cantaloupes and peaches. Look for our famous Knox County watermelons to arrive in July!  Vendors offer an array of items including local honey, baked goods, frozen seafood, farm-fresh eggs, artisan crafted soaps, and much more are ready to take home.  Your Wednesday evening dinner is solved with everyone’s favorite barbecue!  Bobe-B-Q will be serving up delicious barbecued pulled pork, ribs, and nachos.  Grab a picnic table to enjoy your meal there or a carry-out container to savor it at home. 

Before filling your bags with favorites from the season, we have a few tips to make the most of your purchases. Berries should be brightly colored and plump. When buying sweet corn choose ears with plump kernels and tightly closed husks. Cucumbers should have brightly colored skins. Look for firm and plump tomatoes rich in color. The stalks of Green Onions should look fresh with green tops and slightly white ends. Pick Summer Squash with vibrantly colored skin free of spots and bruises. Zucchini should be dark green, smooth and free of blemishes. Choose cantaloupes that smell sweet and give slightly to pressure, Peaches should give off their signature scent and have some “give”.  Before you head out…have cash/change ready for shopping and bring your own bags if possible.

Visit the Farmers Market at the Riverfront Pavilion on Saturday from 9:00am – 1:00pm, and Wednesday evenings from 4:00pm – 7:30pm. Many of our local farm markets are also open for the season! For a complete list of Knox County farm markets and where to buy these gems go to the Agritourism Attractions tab or download the agritourism map here.