Tag Archives: heirloom tomatoes

Farm Fresh Tomatoes now Arriving

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Kelley’s Berries now selling Blackberries and Blueberries

Whew! It was a hot one at the market this past Saturday, but it didn’t seem to matter much as there was quite the crowd looking for those Tennessee farm fresh tomatoes, green beans and delicious blueberries. Who could blame them? There’s nothing like the taste of a real tomato – a tomato with a little bite to it that wakes up the taste buds and makes the mouth go mmmmm good!

Blueberries and blackberries were a big hit too. Lots of fresh berries and lots of baked goods made with those berries helped make the hot day a lot better.

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Outstanding crop of Blueberries from Kirkview Farm

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Kelley’s Blackberries, just beautiful!

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Fresh Green Beans

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Green fresh Bell Peppers

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Beaverdam Creek Farm fresh produce

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Fresh Made Pasta from City Pasta

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Fresh baked breads from Jones Mill Farm

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Fried Green Tomatoes anyone?

The fresh tomatoes at the FFM are just a preview of what’s to come. Soon, there will be a wide variety of tomatoes at the market that includes a big selection of tasty heirloom tomatoes. That’s a good enough reason for us to celebrate, so we will give the tomato the glory it deserves with our 2nd annual TomatoFest. Our good friends at Amerigo Restaurant have teamed up with us again for this salute to a summertime favorite.

More details are coming soon, but mark your calendar now for July 26th and TomatoFest!

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Certified Organic Tomatoes from Delvin Farms

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Allenbrooke Farm fresh picked produce

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Farm Fresh Produce

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Lovin’ a fresh green bean

One more thing – we noticed a lot of you doing the vogue-thing at the FFM this past Saturday as the market paparazzi roamed around snapping photos. Yeah, it was a hot day, but it was pretty cool to be seen at the Franklin Farmers Market. It looks like a lot of you like being a star in the market’s photo gallery. Did you get your picture taken? Is there a great photo of someone you know in the photo gallery?

 

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Delvin Farms organic squash and bell peppers

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Fresh Cucumbers taste so much better just picked

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Farm Potatoes

My Farm Fresh Breakfast this Labor Day Weekend

Free Range Chicken Eggs, Sourdough Rolls with Apple Jam and a slice of Heirloom Tomato and make for a mighty good farm fresh breakfast

Free Range Chicken Eggs, Sourdough Rolls with Apple Jam and a slice of Heirloom Tomato make for a mighty good farm fresh breakfast

We so enjoy our visits to the Franklin Farmers Market each Saturday morning eager to discover what our Tennessee Farmers have brought to market.  My favorite time of each weekend is to cook and enjoy the farm fresh produce, free range eggs, jams and preserves, heirloom tomatoes, fresh dairy butter and the all natural meats that don’t contain hormones or antibiotics.  I love the bolder flavors my taste buds get to experience when all my food is freshly picked and harvested.

This morning I was a little more excited about preparing breakfast because of what I found yesterday.  Judy of Jones Mill Farm had her first Fig preserves, I love Fresh Fig Preserves!  Now I have discovered one of those special finds-Judy had some Apple Jam.  OMG!!!

Apple Jam and Fig Preserves made fresh by Judy in her kitchen

Apple Jam and Fig Preserves made fresh by Judy in her commercial kitchen at Jones Mill Farm

Judy’s Apple Jam is the best Jam I’ve ever had.  The symphony of flavor created from her Apples, Brown Sugar, Lemons, Ginger, Cloves and Nutmeg sent my taste buds into a tasting celebration!  Such a wonderful balance of flavor and not overly sweet.  And of course the Fig preserves were outstanding as ever.

So here’s a few pictures of my simple quick breakfast using farm fresh free range eggs from West Wind Farm, I love the color and flavor from fresh free range chicken eggs.  And of course Judy’s sourdough rolls with the Apple Jam and Fig Preserves was just perfect to start my day!

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West Wind Farms Free Range Eggs bring unexpected fresh flavor to scrambled eggs

Sourdough Rolls made from 100 year old sourdough darter with butter, free range eggs, water, honey, sea salt and yeast

Sourdough Rolls made from 100 year old sourdough starter with butter, free range eggs, water, honey, sea salt and yeast

Our Apple Jam is made with slices of farm fresh apples, brown sugar, lemons, ginger, cloves and nutmeg

Judy’s Apple Jam is made with slices of farm fresh apples, brown sugar, lemons, ginger, cloves and nutmeg

Fig Preserves on Sourdough Rolls are great for breakfast

Jones Mill Farm Fig Preserves on Sourdough Rolls are great for breakfast

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Mission Complete…I’m ready for my day!

Please share a comment if you enjoy cooking with farm fresh produce, baked goods and locally raised natural meats from the Franklin Farmers Market.  Check out the pictures from Market Saturday’s.

Over 30 Different Tomato Varieties Now at the Franklin Farmers Market

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Beaverdam Creek Tomatoes

How many tomatoes do you think we had at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday? We’re not sure either, but we could say it was an invasion, because there were tomatoes everywhere.  Our Tennessee Farmers bring over 30 different varieties from red and yellow tomatoes, striped and purple tomatoes, big and small cherry tomatoes, including heirloom tomatoes and traditional favorites.  Perfect for canning and making relish or just a good old BLT. We love this time of the year, because it’s not just the number of tomatoes that is so high, but all of the other summertime favorites of the garden are ripe and ready to eat.

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Bloomsbury Farm Wheat Grass

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Farm Fresh picked Peaches and Cream Corn

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Farm Fresh Produce and Herbs from Rocky Glade Farm

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AssortedTie Dyed Clothing from Pieceful World Clothing

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Artisan Woods by Cody

Bags of purple hull peas and green beans were being snapped up at the market, along with okra and bell peppers. Those sweet juicy peaches from Kirkview Farm were also a big hit.

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Sweet Peaches and Apples from Rainbow Hill Farm

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Kirkview Farms Purple Hull Peas and Melons

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Ice Cold Limeade and teas from Lucy’s Kitchen

It was a little hot on Saturday… Okay, it was just flat out hot and muggy. But it didn’t matter. Folks were drinking ice cold, fresh limeade from Lucy’s Kitchen or dipping spoons into sweet delicious gelato from Hatcher’s Dairy to stay cool. And you know what one of the best things is about coming to the market? Even though you know what’s ripe and ready to eat, there’s always something new to enjoy too. Like Delvin Farm’s organic hot & spicy tomato juice. Great for cooking and drinking! Or like Rainbow Hill Farm’s Concord grapes.

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Organic Bloody Mary Mix from Delvin Farms organic tomatoes

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Concord Grapes from Rainbow Hill Farm

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Beautiful Watermelons from Bronnenberg Farm

Circle August 24th on your calendars, because that’s a big, sweet seed-spittin’ fun day at the farmers market. It’s the Franklin Farmers Market Watermelon Festival, presented by our friends at the Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine.  You don’t want to miss the watermelon seed spitting or the fastest watermelon eating contests. There are games and face painting for the kids, wild watermelon carvings and plenty of ice cold watermelons to enjoy.

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Cecil’s Tomatoes from Pocahontas Creek Farms

And finally, you know the old saying about the early bird getting the worm? That’s been the thought about the market too. Get there early to make sure you get the best of the farm fresh produce you want before it runs out. But trying to scope out the fresh picked veggies early at the market could be dangerous. Our Tennessee farmers and vendors start setting up their farm booths early, but there are so many farmers at the market that they all can’t get moved in at the same time. And if they are trying to unload their trucks and set things up, it’s not safe for you to walk around the market.

So we’re asking you to please wait until the market opens to start shopping. The Franklin Farmers Market opens at 8am. When you hear the bell ringing, come on in!

Don’t forget to visit our pictures from Saturday.

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Canned Cucumbers from Norton Family Farm

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Tomato Season is in Full Swing!

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FFM Manager Deb with  Lex and Tim from Colbert Farm

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These Farm Fresh Tomatoes are hand picked fresh, from the farm, by our Tennessee Farmers and their families as these tomatoes are from Zadok the Natural Farmer

Franklin Farmers Market on Talk of the Town

The Franklin Farmers Market was featured on WTVF Channel 5 Talk of the Town today with Lelan Statom and Meryll Rose honoring this years Franklin Farmers Market TomatoFest.

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Franklin Farmers Market Recipe Book "Eating in Seasons"

Franklin Farmers Market Recipe Book “Eating in Seasons”

Gayle Franks represented the Franklin Farmers Market with a tomato pasta recipe from the farmers market new “Eating in Season” recipe cookbook!  Gayle chose to prepare and cook the recipe “Fusilli with Raw Tomato” with host Lelan Statom of WTVF News Channel 5 of Nashville, Tennessee.  The tomatoes used in today’s recipe were heirloom tomatoes, bradley tomatoes along with other tomato varieties from our farmers market.

Gayle did a wonderful job representing the Franklin Farmers Market on News Channel 5’s Talk of the Town with Lelan Statom.  Lelan asked about this years TomatoFest and Gail shared that visitors will be able to taste many of the different varieties of farm fresh tomatoes Tennessee Farmers grow and bring to our farmers market each Saturday morning.

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Gayle Franks and Sharon Burbage selecting Heirloom Tomatoes for Talk of the Town Show

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Dottie, Sharon and Gayle selling the Eating in Season market recipe cookbook on market Saturday

We expect a big day celebrating the Tomato used in so many fresh healthy food recipes at this Saturday’s Tomato Festival in Franklin, TN.  The Eating in Season recipe cookbook is designed to be used with farm fresh ingredients for family fresh cooking.  The new Franklin Farmers Market recipe book Eating in Season will be available for purchase every Saturday during market hours 8am till 1pm.

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The Eating in Season Recipe Cookbook can be found at the Franklin Farmers Market each Saturday morning from 8am until 1pm

Hope to see you Saturdays at our Tennessee Farmers Market!

Farmers Market Tomato Festival 2013 is this Saturday!

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The Totally Terrific Tomat-OH! Contest

Forget about having four seasons. There are really only two – tomato season and not tomato season. No other vegetable exemplifies summer like a ripe, juicy tomato fresh from the garden. From salads to sauces, tomatoes can be found in almost every meal. The lyrics of the “Homegrown Tomato” song by Guy Clark says it all: “You can eat ‘em with eggs, you can ‘em with gravy, you eat ‘em with beans, pinto or navy.” So it’s only appropriate that we salute summer’s most popular veggie with TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market.  On Saturday, July 27th, we pay homage to the tomato and celebrate its delicious flavor and versatility.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom Tomatoes

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Salad Tomatoes

Tomato Seeds

Seed Saving Demonstration

Amerigo-Logo-newsletterPresented by Amerigo, TomatoFest features cooking demonstrations with tomatoes from the market’s farmers, samples of both heirloom and a variety of popular tomatoes, a tomato seed–saving class and the ultimate title for tomato greatness with the Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh! contest. With all of their incredible pasta and Italian dishes, the chefs of Amerigo are experts at creating dishes featuring fresh tomatoes.

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Delvin Farm Organic Cherry Tomatoes

You’ll have the chance to watch and sample as Chef Stephen from the Cool Springs location of Amerigo prepares Panzanella Salad with heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella; fresh tomato Pomodoro Sauce over pasta and Tomato Jam served on crostini with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

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Multi-colored Heirloom Tomatoes

You can taste the goodness of both heirloom and wide variety of tomato favorites during our taste-test demos too. Or learn more about sustainable agriculture through the seed saving demonstration from Zadock, the Natural Farmer.

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Rocky Glade Farm Tomatoes

Pick up delicious tomato-based baked goods at the Franklin Farmers Market during TomatoFest, such as the Tomato Pie from Norton Family Farm. It’s the ultimate in yummy comfort food.

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Sweet Cherry Tomatoes from Norton Family Farm

Don’t miss out on the special TomatoFest salsa and chips either, prepared by Amerigo from  the fresh ingredients of Allenbrooke Farms. And of course, the farmers at the market have the fresh, truly ripe tomatoes you crave. It’s a tomato-lover’s heaven… TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market!

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Jones Mill Farm specializes in Heirloom Tomatoes

Tomato lovers buy up Tennessee Farm Tomatoes Quickly

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The FFM’s “Growing Kids” gardening students love tomatoes too!

Tomato lovers, rejoice! It truly is tomato season at the Franklin Farmers market. Old favorites, like Bradleys and Big Boys are plentiful now, along with beautiful heirloom tomatoes and colorful cherry tomatoes too.

The market really is a tomato lover’s heaven. For proof of that, don’t miss our celebration of the tomato… TomatoFest!

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Jones Mill Farm Heirloom Tomatoes

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Norton Family Farm Cherry Tomatoes, oh so sweet!

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J.R. and Judy of Jones Mill Farm putting out more Heirloom Tomatoes

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So many nice ripe and juicy farm fresh tomatoes to choose from

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Cherry Tomatoes and Blackberries all around the Market

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A crisp 62 degrees brought out so many Foodies!

On July 27th, tomatoes rule the roost at the Franklin Farmers Market with chef demos from Amerigo Italian Restaurant, tomato squashing and seed saving, yummy samples and the Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh! contest.

Mark your calendars now. You don’t want to miss it.

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The Market was buzzing with the first crop of Tennessee Silver Queen Corn

And while we love our tomatoes dearly, corn was the king of the day this past Saturday as the first crop of Silver Queen corn arrived at the Franklin Farmers Market. It was snatched up so fast, that it was almost as if the farmers were handing out free money. The King Farm and the Gracy Farm sold out quickly and the other farms soon were out of the sweet kernels too. But if you missed out, no problem. There’ll be even more delicious corn next Saturday at the market.

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Market customers helped themselves to fresh corn from the back of pickup trucks

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All gone, sold out in just 2 hours

And a sweet treat made its’ first appearance at the market too. Pilgrim’s Produce farm has yummy watermelons. The “Yellow Doll” watermelons went fast, but more watermelons will be back at the market next Saturday.

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We are blessed to have such wonderful Farmers!  Lucy’s Kitchen visiting with Pilgrims Produce

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Just picked Organic Apples from Delvin Farms

All in all, it was a great market. Lots of families roaming around, enjoying the fresh air and fresh food. A lot of new residents to Franklin stop by too, paying their first visit to the market. And our farmers enjoyed the day as much as you did. Thanks for your support of the Franklin Farmers Market!

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Fresh farm grown Blueberries and Blueberry Syrup made just Friday night before Saturday market

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A great year of nice Tennessee weather delivering wonderful CSA’s from Delvin Farms

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So many farm fresh veggies to choose from

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Another Chef picking up farm fresh cherry tomatoes?

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A happy market visitor finding fresh apples and a sunflower

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This smile says it all…A great week of farm fresh food ahead

Farmers Bring Fresh Green Beans, Squash, Cucumbers, Blueberries, Peppers, Onions and More to Market

You know it’s going to be a good day when you spy the first of the blueberries at the market. They were the early variety, tasty and juicy. Those blueberries didn’t last long though, but that’s okay.

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Deb ringing in the Start of a wonderful Market Day

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Lot’s of new visitors and vacationers enjoying the day

The market was full of delicious food last Saturday. Green beans and new potatoes, along with cauliflower, beets and other fresh produce were plentiful. A lot of good farm eggs were snapped up too, along with tender steaks for the grill. Yummy breads, desserts and honey…. It was a food paradise!

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Fresh Flowers to Fresh Veggies at the market

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Lucy’s Kitchen always has Breakfast Treats ready

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First Cucumbers of Summer

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Where’s my Olive Oil and Outdoor Grill?

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Absolutely Beautiful Potatoes

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The new Franklin Farmers Market Recipe Book has wonderful Recipes from our Famers!

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We still have Strawberries…but not for long!

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Ellie’s Fresh Made Old Fashion Donuts

But sometimes you can’t find the vegetable you really want at the market. A lot of questions were asked Saturday about when would tomatoes show up at market; why weren’t there any watermelons and where was the corn? Georgia and Alabama produce typically is ripe and ready about two weeks before it is in Tennessee. The further south a farm is, the quicker the garden grows. Plus this year, we had a wet and cool spring, so some produce is running a little later than usual. But you need to be familiar with the seasonality of produce and fruit grown in Tennessee. Tomatoes typically are not ripe and plentiful until July. It’s the same thing with corn and watermelons are at their best in July and August too. Next Saturday, stop by the Market Information booth and pick up a free copy of Local Table. It’s a great guide to food and farming in Middle Tennessee, and it also has a big seasonality chart so you can get a better idea of when your favorite veggies and fruits are ripe and at market.

Speaking of tomatoes, nothing says summer like a deliciously ripe tomato. And we’re not talking about those tomatoes that are shipped in from other states or countries. We crave real tomatoes; the locally grown tomatoes. So when those first Middle Tennessee tomatoes are ripe and ready, it’s time to celebrate. And we’re going to do just that with our salute to tomatoes. Don’t miss the Franklin Farmers Market’s TomatoFest, July 27th. Fresh tomatoes are the stars of the show. Enjoy samples of delicious heirloom tomatoes. Watch cooking demos of Chef Steven from Amerigo. Learn seed-saving techniques and take part in the ugly tomato contest. It’s a tomato lover’s heaven… TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market!

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New Fresh Peppers

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Lovely Green Onions

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The clean smell of Lavender was in the Air

Hatcher Dairy Farm on NBC Today Show with Al Roker!

Did you get to see the Hatcher Family on the NBC Today Show yesterday morning? If you missed Al Roker of the Today Show broadcasting from the Hatcher Family Dairy Farm in College Grove, Tennessee, here are a few links to coverage of the show broadcast from the Hatcher Family Dairy.  What great weather for a special NBC Today Show segment with Al Roker direct from the Hatcher Family Farm!

Charlie Hatcher told me last week how excited they were that Sharon had entered a contest called “Wake Up With Al” 2 weeks ago.  After entering Hatcher Family Dairy online into the “Wake Up With Al” contest Sharon Hatcher received a phone call within a few hours asking them to be available for an interview.  From there, Charlie says it all happened so fast.  Congrats to the Hatcher Family on representing Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Farmers so well!  We are all so proud to have Hatcher Family Dairy as part of the Franklin Farmers Market!

Real Farmers!   Real Food!   Real Good!

Video of The Today Show broadcast


Watch it at Today.com

Charlie Hatcher Shares the Experience

Related Links

If you find any more footage from the Today Show segment “Wake Up With Al”, please email us and we will add it here.