Watauga County Farmers' Market will be opening for our 35th season on May 2. We are all looking forward to greeting old friends as well as welcoming many new vendors to the market. There will be an even greater range of products at the market this year including new craft items, prepared foods, and local meats. We hope you will be able to find many things to make you life more healthful and enjoyable.

Gardeners will find a wide variety of vegetable, herb and flowering plants already acclimated to our climate and ready to grow and thrive. Larry Denny will have different varieties of tomato plants including some heirloom varieties. You will be able to choose between German Johnson, Mr Stripey, Bonnie Best and Old German just to name a few. Larry will also have Sweet Bell, Chili, Habenero, Jalapeno and Sweet Banana pepper plants and several types of herb plants including basil, dill fennel, sage and mint. Don and Roger Owens will have plenty of vegetable plants, herb plants and colorful bedding plants, and Allen Snyder will have a good selection of potted plants including flowering shrubs.

Jeff Thomas of Creeksong Farms will be at his usual spot with beef, herb plants and Bettie’s medicinal and cosmetic herbal products. Many vendors will be offering pork, lamb and chicken at the market this year. There will also be spring vegetables on hand such as spinach, arugula, rhubarb and asparagus from Sally Thiel's Zydeco Moon Organic Farm.

There will be an even wider selection of prepared foods and baked goods as several new vendors are introducing their products this year. You will also find your favorites such as Dorene and Pete Jankowski's Fire From The Mountain with Chipotle, Habanero and Serrano hot sauce, salsa, BBQ sauce as well as free range hen eggs. Joan Knox will also be returning with her famous sourdough breads, half moon fried pies, cheesecake, cake and pecan pies. Liza Plaster will have plenty of fresh goat chevre both plain and with fresh herbs from her gardens. Liza also hopes to have Peonies this Saturday. James Wilkes will be there with granola, scones, cinnamon rolls. blueberry muffins, triple chocolate muffins, five seed bread and seven grain bread. James will also have black walnuts, potted hosta plants, and maybe even some local honey. Carol Miller will have baked goods, jams and jellies, culinary vinegars, granola and baking mixes along with almond butter and peanut butter.

Renee Blacken will be back with her organic whole grain handmade breads including new sourdough breads for this season. Renee will also have granola made with organic grains and homegrown sorghum molasses and will be adding hand knit hats, socks, mittens and handspun, naturally dyed yarns and also vegetable starts this year.

Sue Thomas will be adding crocheted items to her lineup this year, and will also have raspberry plants, Dahlia bulbs, and fresh local eggs this year. Annlynn Ward will return with her local nature photography available in matted photos, framed photos and note cards. Caron Wike will be at the market with her funky pots and bowls, salt and pepper shakers, berry bowls, purses and lavender sachets.

The Wednesday morning markets have been moved to Wednesday afternoons for the 2009 season. The exact times are not yet confirmed but tentatively set for 4 - 7PM, starting on June 17. The market is still working on EBT acceptance, you can call 1-828-355-4918 to check on the status if you are interested in using EBT at the market.

Find us at the Horn in the West in Boone, turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 or visit our website at http://wcfm.info for more information. We will be there rain or shine!