With summer in full swing, local produce in Knoxville isn’t hard to find.
In fact, it can be found at UT Gardens.
Operating at a smaller scale than other farmer’s markets in Knoxville, such as the Market Square Farmer’s Market, the UT Farmer’s Market offers similar local goods.
The UT Farmer’s Market opened in 2010 with only one vendor, and has since grown to multiple vendors offering fresh produce, local food, entertainment and events, as well as educational information to those in attendance.
While small in scale, the UT Farmer’s Market is growing every year with many students involved.
Samantha Ellis, senior in horticulture and an intern with UT Gardens, works as a vendor selling produce such as kale, carrots, berries and flowers grown on campus.
“It’s a great place to be, working with UT Gardens offers a very hands on approach,” Ellis said.
UT Organic Farm vendors such as Jeff Martin, the manager of the UT Garden’s internship program, also sell all organic produce at the market.
But vendors don’t neglect serving the community as well.
Organizations such as Grow More Give More, which began as a service project by the UT Institute of Agriculture, gathers leftover produce not sold by vendors and donates it to the Society of St. Andrew, where it is then dispersed to the Love Kitchen and similar groups.
Through the UT Farmer’s Market and other donations, Grow More Give More has been able to serve over 850 people fresh, homegrown produce.
Mike Smith, a representative of Grow More Give More at the UT Farmer’s Market, said the organization actively looks for fresh produce.
“Canned foods and other non-perishable products are great, but everybody needs fresh produce in their diet,” Smith said. “And we don’t just take donations from the UT Market; anyone who has a backyard or community garden can donate.”
In one Wednesday’s market alone, Grow More Give More can collect over 100 pounds in fresh produce.
The UT Farmer’s Market runs through Oct. 22 and is open every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the UT Gardens off Neyland Drive.
