Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
As the summer heat starts to slip away, the crisp fall breeze has started to set in within the City of Wetumpka. The sun was bright and warm over the weekend where the fall festivities kicked into gear at the Wetumpka Fall Farmers Market Saturday morning.
“The Fall Market was the first special event established by the Farmers Market four years ago, and it has thrived each year. We have since added other events, such as our Holiday Market and Valentine Market, but there is something special about the Fall Market. Being along the Coosa River, the cool brisk air and the changing leaves create a beautiful sight and a wonderful experience,” Coordinator of the Wetumpka Farmers Market, Dakota Steed said.
With over 45 vendors in attendance, with the products, local produce and local vendors were channeling fall, one pumpkin at a time.
The Wetumpka Farmers Market is located at 304 E Coosa St., with stunning views over the Coosa River, and just a short drive from historic Downtown Wetumpka.
“As summer comes to an end and fall begins, many of our farmers prepare for the next season. However, we do have some farmers, such as Evans Farms and Meheargk Farms, that produce fall items like pumpkins and gourds. This allows us to provide a location for citizens to purchase a variety of products at once during events like this. At the Fall Market, attendees can purchase everything from fall produce to 3D-printed items,” Steed said.
Farmers market enthusiasts had the opportunity to not only stock up on the fall essentials such as pumpkins, gourds, fall themed baked goods, plants, handmade items and so much more. But the community had an opportunity to enjoy the fall sunshine ahead of the Alabama and Tennessee football game.
Steed stated that the crops are very limited to the summer season within the River Region. Steed also pointed out that the Fall Market is significantly larger than the sanctioned markets that are held throughout the summer.
During the “regular” summer season, Steed stated that many of the farmers and vendors grow a variety of produce localized to Central Alabama, such as cantaloupes, peaches, watermelons, beets, peppers, butterbeans, collard greens, potatoes, tomatoes and so much more.
However, during the summer months, the farmers market is limited due to guidelines in place, Steed confirmed. These guidelines are to ensure that vendors at the Farmers Market in the summer months focus primarily on agricultural items, handmade goods, plants, wooden birdhouses and soaps, Steed stated.
“I would like to remind everyone to shop and support local. The participants in our markets, especially the sanctioned summer markets, are your friends, family, and neighbors. They are the businesses that support your kids’ and grandkids’ sports teams and offer refreshing products you won’t find in big-box stores,” Steed said.
