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LOGAN FARMERS’ MARKET OPEN HOUSE SET FOR OCTOBER 25
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) will sponsor a fall open house at the Logan Farmers’ Market Saturday, October 25, from 1-3 p.m. The year-round market is located at the Old Logan Road exit, just off U.S. 119, Corridor G.
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass will take part in the festivities and will be available for media interviews and to meet and greet shoppers. Other attractions will include a “Taste of West Virginia” reception sponsored by the WVDA Marketing and Development Division that will feature samplings of Tasty Blend Foods and Dark Hollow products.
The local Kiwanis Club will also be cooking fresh apple butter during the day. The Market will feature 50-pound bags of West Virginia potatoes for $9 and Eastern Panhandle apples for sale. Crihfield Produce will have pumpkins, fodder shocks and other fresh fall produce.
“Residents of the Logan and surrounding county areas should take pride in their market. This is one of the finest farmers’ markets in the state and a model for what I would like to see happen at four more locations in West Virginia next year,” said Commissioner Douglass, referring to a recent initiative by the WVDA to partner with local entities to develop new year-round farmers’ markets in the state.
WVDA will award four $50,000 grants to qualified local agencies that can put together a $50,000 match for the state money. The new retail outlets will increase demand for West Virginia Grown products and encourage more agricultural production to meet the increased demand, Commissioner Douglass said.
He noted a large upswing in interest in locally grown food in recent years, due to safety concerns, transportation costs and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), which provides senior citizens with $20 worth of vouchers to spend at local farmers’ markets.
The SFMNP was on the chopping block a few years ago, but Commissioner Douglass said public outcry and his influence helped to keep federal funding for the program.
“Farmers’ markets just don’t serve seniors, though,” he added. “They provide children with a link to where their food comes from, they help farmers keep agricultural land in production, and they provide nutritious produce that can help everyone live a healthier lifestyle. I’m proud that West Virginia has tripled its number of farmers’ markets over the past 15 years. The number of markets around the country has been on the rise over the same period, but we have added more than the national average. I think that’s a great tribute to West Virginia’s rural heritage.”
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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