Charleston – The Winter Blues Farmers Market returns for its 16th year on March 1 to the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center from noon to 5 p.m. The Market wraps up the annual West Virginia Small Farm Conference (Feb. 26 – March 1), sponsored by WVU Extension and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA). More than 120 agribusinesses from across the state will set up shop to sample and sell their products. Whether you’re looking for pure West Virginia maple syrup or cuts of beef from animals raised and processed right here in the Mountain State, our vendors can tell shoppers where their products come from, how they were grown, what ingredients were used, right down to how they were packaged and the price point behind them.
“Our farmers, growers, and producers are incredibly proud of their land, their agribusinesses, and the products they make,” stresses Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “Whether they raise cattle or corn, roast coffee or grow herbs, they work hard to create quality products. Might it be more expensive than what you can pick up in a big box super store? Yes, but remember this. These vendors are using locally grown ingredients, not food shipped thousands of miles. They are employing local workers who make a living wage. The money you spend at Winter Blues goes right back into the local economy, not to some corporate headquarters located out-of-state or in another country. These products and their makers are worth the investment!”
Admission to the Winter Blues Farmers Market is FREE, making it the perfect family-friendly outing. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to shop local and support West Virginia’s finest producers. Last year’s market saw over $140,000 in sales, all of which went directly to the vendors.
For more information about the Winter Blues Farmers Market, contact the WVDA Business Development Division at businessdevelopment@wvda.us or 304-558-2210.
