According to the Appalachian RC&D Council, there are more than 12 farmers markets operating in northeast Tennessee. “The number of active farmers markets has doubled over the past 15 years,“ cites Emily Bidgood of the ARC&D. “This means that 6 days a week, you can find a local farmers market to shop at,” says Emily Bidgood, of the ARCD. A full schedule and list of markets is at arcd.org/farmfresh/find-a-farmers-market.
Based on surveys with 12 area farmers markets, more than 300 vendors are part of a farmers market in the region, and on an average Saturday morning in the peak summer season 4,700 customers are out shopping at a farmers market. “They are extremely important to the local economy,” says Bidgood.
August 4-9th is National Farmers Week, which serves to not only uplift the economic importance, but remind communities how farmers markets foster shared values between community members and create a more fair and secure food system. National Farmers Market Week is proclaimed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition, a membership-based nonprofit organization that supports farmers markets nationwide. Their motto is “Farmers markets are more than market places, they are places where neighbors learn, grow, and work together.”
Farmers Markets of the region will list any special events for National Farmers Market week on their individual social media pages. Kingsport Farmers Market, for example, will host Homegrown Tomato Fest August 9th.
As part of National Farmers Market Week, Farmacy Fit, a popular farmers market walking program that aims to connect people with local fresh fruits and vegetables, is returning for the rest of the 2025 farmers market season to 4 area markets: In Greeneville at the Depot Street Farmers Market which is held at the Partnership, Jonesborough Farmers Market, Johnson City Farmers Market, Depot Street Farmers Market in Downtown Greeneville and Erwin Farmers Market (Friday evenings).
Farmacy Fit is open to everyone, and each person who participates (including kids!) will receive $3 in tokens which can be redeemed at participating market vendors for fruits or vegetables. Tokens expire at the end of the market season and can only be redeemed for fruits and vegetables.
To participate, people are encouraged to arrive early and visit the Market Information Booth where they will sign up and be given further instructions. After completing the one-mile loop, or chair exercises, participants will receive their tokens and can spend them right away.
In 2024, the Farmacy Fit program operated at 7 area markets. Participation consisted of 1,071 adults and 716 children, who all together walked 8,382 miles, and then spent $30,548 in tokens for fresh produce.
According to the ARCD, Farmacy Fit is expected to have a full season in 2026, in partnership with more farmers markets in the region beyond the four that are able to participate for August-October 2025.
Farmacy Fit is a program of the Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council (ARCD) and is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee and the United States Department of Agriculture. ARCD is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization serving Northeast Tennessee and beyond. The mission of ARCD is to conserve natural resources and improve rural economies through community leadership and enhanced educational opportunities.
For more information on ARCD and its programming, please visit arcd.org.
