MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Content Editor
Posted: Sunday, February 28, 2010 7:11 am

Fresh and local food has become a big business in the past few years with more people forgoing the supermarket for the farmers market.

Since moving to its new location on John Rice Boulevard last year, the UT/TSU Agricultural Extension’s market has seen more than 36,000 visitors.

Extension Agent and Farmers Market Manager Rebekah Norman said a change in mindset is fueling the “locavore” movement.

“More and more people are desiring to have that kind of lifestyle and a relationship with people raising their food,” she said.

On top of that Main Street: Murfreesboro/Rutherford County and the Rutherford Farmers Co-op are planning to add farmers markets into the mix this year too. Main Street: Murfreesboro/Rutherford County is trying to take advantage of the movement and promote downtown at the same time with its Saturday Market.

Beginning Saturday, June 5, local farmers will set up shop from 8 a.m.-noon on the west side of the County Courthouse in the inner circle.

“We want it to be fun and festive,” said Kathleen Herzog, event coordinator, “and of course we want to have homegrown fruits and vegetables, but we also want baked goods, plants and herbs.”

Herzog is also thinking about featuring local musicians at the Saturday Market.

Also, Norman said the Extension market will add more vendors this year who sell goat milk and cheese, pasture-raised chicken, turkey, Cornish hens and beef.

But if you don’t have time to make it to a farmers market, Martins Home and Garden on Broad Street has a wide selection of locally grown produce.

Martin’s concentrates on selling locally raised produce, including tomatoes, cantaloupes and sweet corn in the summer.

“Every year we sell more product,” Lester Martin said in a previous interview. “We are expanding every year.”

There are even options for those who don’t want to go to a store or market.

Doe Run Farms, located in Lincoln County, is certified organic and delivers boxes filled with seasonal vegetables, berries and other produce, in three different sizes, on Wednesdays starting in mid-May to a location near MTSU.

“Our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is growing, last year we doubled our membership, and we are anticipating another increase this season,” Doe Run Farm owner Judy McGary said. “We have a lot of new members that have registered early this season, which helps us with our planning.”

McGarys have been farming at Doe Run for more than 10 years and started with six CSA members five years ago. The program has exploded since, she said. Last summer she had close to 200 families registered.

CSA members basically pay for their share of the farm’s harvest in advance, McGary explained, which helps the farm get crops in the ground and out to the public.

To register with Doe Run Farms, visit www.doerunfarmtn.com, print out a registration form and mail it in with a check.

McGary said to do it soon because the farm sold out last year before growing season even started.

“We had to turn away a few that wanted to register,” she said. “They had just waited too late to sign up and we don't keep a waiting list for CSA.”

Even if one misses the CSA deadline, there are still plenty of options around town for getting farm-fresh foods.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

More info …
UT/TSU Agricultural Extension, 898-7710
Doe Run Farms, www.doerunfarmtn.com
Martins Home and Garden, 867-7121
Rutherford Farmers Co-op, 893-9200