Growing Greenup- May 6, 2025

Growing Greenup

Anne Stephens

For The Ashland Beacon

It’s market season! The Certified Greenup County Farmers Market will open on Saturday, May 10 at the beautiful pavilion located beside the Greenup County Extension Office at 35 Wurtland Avenue, Wurtland, KY 41144. You’ll find a variety of specialty vendors including farmers, artisans, and makers. You will see the farmer/producers add more and more fresh farm harvest each week as we get further into growing season. Local produce is an important and enjoyable part of community food systems. Many of the farmers have high tunnels where they can grow plants early. I encourage everyone in Greenup County to be aware of our local certified Farmers Market and to make plans to attend on a regular basis!

Hours are 9:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m on Saturdays and 3:00 p.m.– 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings. There is a food truck booked on site each time the market is open. You can find more detailed information about the market on their Facebook page and website.

You may wonder what the difference is between a certified market and a roadside produce stand. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture states that “the demand for affordable, fresh, local and healthy foods is growing. With more than 160 successful farmers’ markets across the Commonwealth, spanning more than 110 counties and 2,700 vendors, farmers’ markets and direct-to-consumer marketing are great ways to meet that demand. It’s simple for the consumer to find the products their looking for and buying local puts a face on your food with a connection between the consumer and farmer. Every action we take in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is aimed at helping farmers, farmers’ markets and agribusinesses in Kentucky.” https://www.kyagr.com/marketing/farmers-market.html

You will find that many of our vendors at the Greenup County Farmers Market have registered “Kentucky Proud” products and ALL of our producers are required to follow the guidelines published by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for Farmers Markets. They also receive guidance from our Greenup County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Linda Hieneman and our Agent for Family and Consumer Science, Lora Pullin. You can reach them anytime by calling the Extension office at 606-836-0201 or linda.hieneman@uky.edu and lora.pullin@uky.edu .

As the Extension Agent for Community Arts in Greenup County, I love working with our artisans who contribute to the local creative economy! Along with fruits and vegetables, plants, flowers, jelly and jam, honey, eggs, homemade breads and sweets, gluten-free breads and sweets, you will find a variety of arts and craft items. We have handmade soap, carved gourds, crochet and hand sewn items, handmade jewelry and other decorative items, bath bombs, lip balm, rolling pins, cutting boards, wood bases for charcuterie boards, hand carved wooden bowls, bird houses, special guest food trucks and games/educational opportunities for kids.

On May 10, there will be a special flower potting station where you can make a gift for mom. The market is the perfect place for you to find a special gift for Mother’s Day, May 11! 

Our market is more than a quick stop for corn and beans when that season arrives – it is a family friendly destination for fun and discovering the talents of our local people. There will be live music the first Saturday of each month at noon, a tractor show and homemade ice cream on the second Saturday of each month thanks to the GOTEM Club, a beginner dulcimer class on the third Saturday of each month inside the office building, and the Greenup County Public Library Bookmobile will be there every Saturday! Plan to stay a while and take it all in.   

I believe you will find that all of our Greenup County Farmers Market vendors will show you the respect and dedication to their products and our community when you visit our certified market. We also have t-shirts, hats, and reusable shopping bags with our market logo.

When shopping at the certified Greenup County Farmers Market, you can be sure that the produce you are purchasing was grown by the farmer/vendor who is selling it to you. That is a rule of our market. You do not have this assurance elsewhere. You can ask the farmers about their growing process and they would be happy to discuss with you! You can also discuss the creative process with our artisans and crafters. They have been juried and approved with the assurance that they are creating their products in their own homes or at a local studio. Many of our vendors take orders and do custom creations. Come and meet them and get connected with the BEST gift-giving connections in our area! (It is even ok to buy gifts for yourself.)

If you would like to see a list of our vendors and what they have to sell, stop in the Extension Office anytime Monday – Friday, 8AM – 4:30 and pick up a market directory. You are welcome to attend the market any time and every time it is open. You never know exactly what you’ll find at the Farmers Market. Don’t miss out! I’ll see you there.

  For more information, contact Anne Stephens, Agent for Community Arts and Development in Greenup County. 606.836.0201 anne.stephens@uky.edu 35 Wurtland Avenue, Wurtland, KY 41144 The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.  University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky counties, cooperating.