FREDERICK – Another summer season of the Tillman County Farmers Market will begin with the opening of the weekly event on Saturday, May 15 at the market’s location, 420 S. Main.
Among the food items to be sold during the market each Saturday will include locally grown fruits and vegetables (where possible), fresh meat, fresh baked beans and desserts.
We’ll have live entertainment and sell rib eye sandwiches for donation,” said Lynn Hammack, co-manager of the event. “We’ll have a lot of vegetables to sell and several new vendors this year.”
Hammack said that new vendors at this year’s event will sell items such as fresh eggs and there will be craft vendors on hand to sell items such as plants and homemade knives.
Operating hours each Saturday are 8 a.m. until 12 noon. SNAP benefits are accepted as part of a Double Up Oklahoma program by Hunger Free Oklahoma, designed to help low-income families purchase and eat healthier food selections while supporting local farmers. To encourage of healthy food items, $1 each in SNAP and Double Up Oklahoma benefits will be valid toward of fruits and vegetables. Also, state-issued credits for senior citizens who qualify can be used for up to $50 in purchases of fruits and vegetables.
The market will be in its fourth season in 2021 and scheduled each Saturday through Aug. 14. Fruits offered last year included watermelons and peaches. Vegetable offerings in 2020 included onions, carrots, broccoli, squash, black-eyed peas, cabbage, cantaloupe, corn on the cob, cucumbers, green beans, okra, radishes and tomatoes.
Hammack said COVID-19 issues made last year’s market a challenge. “Our business was down some due to the restrictions,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll have more customers coming in this year. We still plan to take safety measures against COVID-19, but no masks will be required.”
Additional information is available at the Tillman County Farmers Market’s Facebook page.