The Bradford pear trees blooming in your neighbor’s yard aren’t an illusion. Despite a recent turn for the chilly, it really is spring. As March goes out like a lamb, April is right around the corner with an onslaught of fresh food to come with it. Between mid-April and mid-May, the majority of farmers markets in the Three Rivers area will open their stands for the 2013 season. Check out the information below to plan your local shopping:
Jacksonville Farmers’ Market: Opening May 4, this market will be open from 4-8 p.m. Tuesdays and from 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays. The market, at 9 Municipal Drive in Jacksonville, will operate through Oct. 26.
Cabot Farmers Market: This outdoor market will open for the season on May 4. Look for farmers to be set up from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through the last weekend in October. The Cabot market averages 15 to 18 vendors each weekend and is set up in the parking lot of First Security Bank, 205 W. Pine St., in downtown Cabot.
Searcy Certified Farmers’ Market: The “certified” part of the name means that each farmer at the market grows what they sell — no reselling here. The Searcy market will open for the season on April 20. Farmers will be selling from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday and from 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays on the south side of Spring Park in Searcy.
Stone County Farmers Market: Look for the Stone County market to open in mid-May this year. While an official open date has not been set, those looking to attend can keep an eye on stonecountyfarmers
market.com for updates. Once the market is open, farmers should be on hand from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. The market may also open from 7-11 a.m. Wednesdays, depending on demand. The market averages around 20 vendors each weekend and is in Centennial Bank Park, 121 Main St. in Mountain View.
Calico Rock Farmers Market: Located at the intersection of Arkansas highways 5 and 56 in Calico Rock, this market typically opens by mid-April and continues through
mid-October. The market will be open from 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays and may open on Wednesdays, depending on demand. The market, sponsored by the Calico Rock Organization for Revitalization Efforts, is in the old Kerr Used Cars lot and has around a dozen vendors each weekend.
Spring River Farmers Market: Bringing together farmers from Hardy, Ash Flat, Highland and Cherokee Village, this market is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Located in the Cherokee Village Town Square, the market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call the Cherokee Village City Hall at (870) 257-5522.
Melbourne Farmers Market: There’s no official opening date for this market, but those interested can keep an eye out for the “Open” flag that flies above the market’s location near the state highway department on Arkansas 69. Once open, the market goes from 7 a.m. until sold out on Mondays and Wednesdays. Call (870) 368-4293 for more information.
White River Farmers Market: This Batesville-based market never has a close date, so farmers start selling as early as their crops come in. Look for the majority to start between mid-April and mid-May. A permanent, covered pavilion at the corner of Chaney Drive and Myers Avenue is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There tend to be more vendors on weekdays than weekends, with an average of four or five on any given day. For more information, call (870) 698-2427.
Did we miss your market? Email Emily Van Zandt at evanzandt@arkansasonline.com, or call (501) 399-3688.