July is a tasty month at the Market

We have 2 cooking demonstrations, free berry tastings, pie and jam contests and our sorbet fundraiser this month! Plan to attend Cooking Day, Wellness Day, the Berry Festival and the new JAM Day that occurs the same day as the HWY 21 yard sale. All events are free and open to the public and occur during the entire Market from 9am to 1pm in Town Park. The Kids Corner is open each Friday from 10-11am with Miss Abby and activities are always free.

Join the Market the first Friday of each month for Cooking Day.  On June 5, Chef Jen will be cooking the entire Market using fresh, local ingredients.  Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult to produce tasty results.  Samples will be available and donations are always welcome to help fund our cooking programs. Join the Kids Corner and put together your very own healthy AND tasty garden snack!

Wellness Day is Friday July 12.  Chef Charles and area health professionals will join the regular Market.  Chef Charles, the Southwest Virginia culinary ambassador returns to the Market to cook fresh, local ingredients.  If you missed him opening day, you have another opportunity to taste his cooking. Samples will be available and donations are always welcome to help fund our cooking programs. Area health professionals will offer free screenings and information. Partners include: The Twin County Regional Healthcare(TCRH) , The Virginia Department of Health(VDH),  The TCRH team will share educational resources with the community and continue our EHAC (Early Heart Attack Care) and Stroke Awareness community education campaign. They will also showcase: Tobacco Cessation, Respiratory, Lab Direct, Physician Practices, Specialty Services, Blood Pressure Checks and BMI. VDH will offer tetanus vaccines. the Kids Corner to celebrate Wellness Day by making your very own stress ball!

The 7th Annual Berry Festival is July 19. The Berry Festival features a berry pie contest, free berry tasting and a berry sorbet fundraiser for the Market. River Ridge Organics is a USDA certified berry farm near Mouth of Wilson. You can find their berries at the Friday and On-line Farmers Markets.  River Ridge donated the berries for the Sorbet fundraiser that is a highlight of Berry Day.  This year, sorbet will be available by the bowl or frozen pint. The Kids Corner will offer a berry tasting  and will use their beautiful, vibrant colors to PAINT.

The public is invited to enter the Berry Pie contest sponsored by The Grayson County Historical Society. In keeping with the historical theme, this will feature traditional berry pies.  Pies are limited to crust, and simple berry filling. The winning entry will receive $100, second place $30 and $20 for third place. Please bring your pies to the Market by 10:00.  Judging will begin at 10:30 am.  Remaining pies will be sold by the slice to benefit the Market.

July ends with a new event, JAM Day on June 26.  The Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) will perform at the Market from 11am to noon.  Everyone is invited to enter the jam contest.  The public will taste and vote for the People’s Choice award.  The jam contest is sponsored by Log Jam who will be demonstrating their portable sawmill at the Market. The Kids Corner will be celebrating “Jam Day” by making our own instruments out of recyclables. And to top it off,  Take a Break from the Interstate Highway 21 yard sale begins on the 26th.  Vendors will be offering yard sale items in addition to fresh local food and artisan crafts.