Published: July 14, 2009 04:42 pm      

Farmer’s market branches into Montgomery

A new face or two has been seen on Third Avenue on recent Fridays.

A farmer’s market in Montgomery, part of the county-wide farmer’s market sponsored by the Fayette County Farmers Market Association — a group of local farmers who regularly sell produce and home-made foods — is currently slated for every Friday in downtown Montgomery.

The market is being set up on Third Avenue, between the Bingo Hall and Potamkin’s Chinese Restaurant. Current hours are from 8:30 a.m. to noon, or until the produce sells out.

The current lone tenant, Rol’s Pepper Patch, is set up to accept WIC and senior citizens’ coupons.

Page resident William Stone, who operates Rol’s Pepper Patch along with partner Dorothy Williams, said last Friday that several customers have stopped by and sampled and purchased the produce. The duo was on hand Friday selling everything from cucumbers and peppers, potatoes and squash, to home-baked white bread, zucchini bread and banana nut loaves.

As the growing season progresses, they will also offer produce such as corn and tomatoes.

“We’ve done fairly well so far,” said Stone, who raises the produce in a garden in Robson. “Next week we look to see more people really rolling in here.

“We’ll definitely be back.”

He added that he hopes more of the farmers’ market participants who sell at the more-established Fayetteville location, in addition to Oak Hill and Mount Hope, will consider selling their goods in Montgomery, too.

Markets are offered in Fayetteville (7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Courthouse parking lot each Saturday), Mount Hope (8 a.m. to 12 noon at Mount Hope Presbyterian Church each Tuesday), and Oak Hill (8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lewis Community Foundation’s Christian Community Center by City Park each Thursday). WIC and senior citizens’ coupons are accepted.

Other farmers interested in taking part in the Farmers Market Association should call Brian Sparks, WVU Extension agricultural specialist, at 304-574-4253.

— E-mail:

skeenan@register-herald.com