Ashe Mountain Times

As the “grow local” movement continues to spread nationally, the town of Lansing will launch an inaugural open air farmers market this spring to showcase the region's agricultural offers.

The market, which will offer locally grown produce from Ashe and the five surrounding counties, will be open every Thursday from 1-6 p.m. from May 3 to Sept. 13 behind the volunteer fire department.

Along with a rich selection of vegetables and fruits, the market will also offer jams, jellies, meats, cheese and bedding plants. Vendor space will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Lansing resident Ann Rose attempted to open a similar market two years ago, but garnered little interest from the town.

She now feels she has the backing and support of the town to make the market a success.

“I want to see a market in the town because it is a farmer's town and Lansing was built by them when it was developed,” said Rose. “I feel like it will also increase the economic (value) of the town because it will help direct traffic this way.”

The market will be limited to local produce, as town officials are contemplating a separate crafts' fair on another day due to the limited tent space available for vendors.

As a subcommittee of the Greater Lansing Area Development initiative, the market may be eligible for state grants for marketing efforts, said Rose.

Susan Joyner, of the greater Lansing area, will be one of the first local merchants to sell at the market.  

Her husband, Ron Joyner, plans to sell apples, vegetables, garlic, and other garden varieties at the market.

The couple's apple tree nursery is their primary source of income and grows more than 300 different varieties of apples.

“We are trying to get the heirloom varieties back in people's yards and to show there is more than just five types of apples that you see in the grocery stores,” said Joyner.

The Joyners have been members of the Ashe County Farmer's Market in West Jefferson for more than 20 years and hope the Lansing entity will share similar success, as a complement to the customer base it serves.

“I hope there is enough people to support it,” said Susan Joyner. “It seems as if business was down for everyone last year.”

She, too, feels the market could be a driving force of tourism for a town that in recent years has tried to increase its appeal. The town is already host to two summer music festivals that attracts thousands of visitors annually.

“I think it will get people up in the region once they realize it's there,” said Joyner. “The first year will be an experience and we will just have to see how it works out.”