Cecil Bronnenberg was well known for the tomatoes he brought to market every Saturday. Lots of people said they were the prettiest tomatoes they had ever seen. But Cecil was also known for his wonderful sweet personality and that is why we will miss him so very much. On Tuesday of this week, at the age of 90, Cecil passed away. Cecil has been a part of the Franklin Farmers Market for a long time and well-thought of not just by customers, but by the other farmers and vendors at the market. Over the course of his life, Cecil was a school principle, a farmer and a WWII Navy Veteran. Last year he went to Washington D.C. on one of the special WWII Veterans Flights to visit the WWII Memorial. It was a very moving experience for Cecil and a proud moment for those of us who loved him to see him honored for service to his country. It is with a very sad heart that we say a final goodbye to Cecil. We will miss him dearly.
Visitation for Cecil will be held from 10am – 1pm Saturday at the Coffee County Funeral Home in Manchester. Services take place at 1pm. ObituaryIn Cecil’s words
Maybe it was that yummy roll with sausage from Jones Mill Farms. Or it could have been a deliciously sweet treat from Ellie’s Doughnuts with a good cup of hot coffee. Or perhaps some of Hatcher Dairy’s famous chocolate milk was the way to start the day. Whatever it was, despite the wet weather, a whole lot of you showed up and munched on breakfast goodies while walking around the market this past Saturday morning.
Ellie’s Old Fashioned Doughnets
Norton Family Farm Pumpkin Rolls
Singing in the Rain!
BB’s Gourmet Pretzels
Wonderful Granola MIx
And our farmers and vendors really appreciate that, because whether it’s rain or shine, hot or cold, there’s good fresh food harvested every day. So again, big thanks to everyone who came out to shop at the Franklin Farmers Market in less than ideal weather.
Pumpkin Face Drawing
Peaceful Pastures now taking Turkey orders
The cooler, wet weather shouldn’t have been a surprise though because Sunday was the official first day of autumn and that means some changes are coming in the produce at the market. There are still a lot of your summer favorites, like tomatoes and cucumbers or squash and field peas.
Farm Fresh Tonmatoes
Just picked Okra
Summer Veggies from Pilgrims Produce
Produce variety from Pilgrims Produce
But with the change in the season, different veggies start showing up. Not everything in the garden is harvested during the hot days of summer. There are a number of vegetables that grow better in cooler temps and are ready to be harvested during both spring and fall. That’s why there is a good supply of such veggies like radishes, beets and carrots during the cool months at the market. Turnips, lettuce and sweet potatoes are plentiful during the fall and spring too. Many farms in Middle Tennessee grow all year long, so the Franklin Farmers Market stays open all year long. The winter market officially begins on November 2nd.
Pumpkins in market from Purple Tree Farm
Sweet Potatoes from Colbert Farm
Wagon of Pumpkins from King Farm
And of course with the fall season, pumpkins come to the market. And when the pumpkins start showing up (like they are now), scarecrows are not too far behind them. October 19th is the day for scarecrows to take over the market. The Invasion of the Scarecrows is great day for family fun, with a free pumpkin patch for the kids, yummy pumpkin goodies to eat, plus the kids can paint pumpkins and get their faces painted too! The Invasion of the Scarecrows is presented by the Williamson Medical Center.
Cherry Jelly from Norton Family Farm
Sunflowers and Veggies from Beaverdam Creek Farm
Great veggies to eat and enjoy; lots of pumpkins and a market takeover by scarecrows… We love fall at the Franklin Farmers Market!
One, two, three….spit! Who knew that spitting seeds could be an athletic event? That’s what happened at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday at the 2nd annual Watermelon Festival. Contestants lined up to show off their spitting ability with watermelon seeds and claim the coveted Seed-Spitting Championship title. The winner was Casey Walker, who put the kids to shame with her athletic spitting ability. However, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place contestants were winners too.
The winners took home sweet juicy watermelons
All of them went home with a delicious sweet watermelon. Watermelon was definitely the star of the market, with delicious watermelon slices to munch on while walking around the market.
A big crowd at the Watermelon Festival!
As we’ve said before, it’s the high season at the market, with summer produce at its peak. Lots of people walking around with big bags filled with peppers and tomatoes; lettuce, potatoes, onions, corn, purple hull peas and much more.
Tasty, ripe bell peppers at the market
Sweet corn from the King Family Farm
And it was a record-setting hot August day for the Franklin Farmers Market too. Over 3,000 people came to the market’s Watermelon Festival! We are very grateful for your support of local farms and local food.
Local artisan Tom The Furniture Guy shows his wares
There is always music at the Franklin Farmers Market
Munching on yummy treats from Ellie’s Doughnuts
Watermelon seed bean bag toss at the festival
How fast can you eat a watermelon slice without using your hands?
The highlight of the day though was the fastest watermelon eating contest. Contestants quickly munched and slurped down watermelon slices with their hands behind their back.
Max wins the top prize
It was a very close call, but in the end, Max Atlas took home the championship along with his first place winnings – a big CSA box of produce from Delvin Farms, honey from Johnson’s Honey Farm, sweet preserves from the Norton Family Farm, chess pie from Geraldine’s Pies, fresh yummy doughnuts from Ellie’s Doughnuts, a bar of goat soap from Tottys Bend Goat Farm and of course, a delicious watermelon!
First place winner Max and his brothers hold up the contest prizes
And if you were at the market for the watermelon festival, you may now be a star on the market website! Click here and check out the photos of market day fun in our photo gallery. Lots of photos snapped, lots of smiling faces. Proof that when all was said and done, it was a great day at the Franklin Farmers Market for everyone!
Evie, a student at the Growing Kids Garden
A juicy watermelon makes everyone smile!
The Franklin Farmers Market Watermelon Festival is proudly sponsored by the Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine
Picking out the perfect watermelon
Slicing watermelon to munch at the market
Juicy, slurping fun at the watermelon eating contest
Farm Fresh Cumbers and Tomatoes from See Sun Vu Farm
It’s been a strange summer. Here we are in August, which is typically a dry and very hot month. But we’ve had plenty of rain and lows in the 50’s. Weird weather indeed, but on the flip side, it’s been good for the veggies. Right now, the Franklin Farmers Market is loaded with lots of great vegetables. You should have seen the pile of peppers at the Gardner’s Grove booth!
Multi-Colored Peppers from Gardener Grove Farm
Over 30 different varieties of Tomatoes
Beautiful Egg Plant coming in for 2013 from See Sun Vu Farm
A Great Summer for Cantaloupe from Kirkview Farm
This Mom teaching her son about Delvin Farms CSA fresh veggies
This year Watermelons are HUGE from Tim of Colbert Farm
And tomatoes were everywhere. Mr. Cecil’s tomatoes were hot items this past Saturday, along with green beans from the Colbert Farm and corn from the King Family Farm. Chicken for the grill was the big thing from River Cottage Farm. The Delvin Farm had cantaloupes that were huge (and sweet!) and of course, several of the farms had delicious watermelons.
So Very Fresh Green Beans from Kirkview Farm
Beautiful Potatoes and Melons from Colbert Farm
Fried Green Tomatoes anyone from Bloomsbury Farm
Beautiful Apples from Kirkview Farm
Wonderful Plums and Peaches from Kirkview Farm
Watermelon Festival is Next Weekend!
Speaking of watermelons, the market’s big Watermelon Festival is coming up this Saturday (August 24th) and it’s a big juicy day of fun for everyone. Besides delicious slices of watermelon to munch on, there are games and face painting for the kids, weird watermelon carvings and the two contests you don’t want to miss – the watermelon seed spitting challenge and the fastest watermelon eating competition.
The excitement is building, as you can see in this short youtube video from one of the potential competitors in the watermelon eating contest:
The seed spitting contest takes place at 10am, while the watermelon eating contest is at 11:30. If you’re up to the challenge, come by the market’s info booth Saturday morning to register. Don’t miss the Franklin Farmers Market Watermelon Festival, presented by the Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine!
Fresh Goat Cheese to Sample from Noble Springs Dairy Farm
Lots of Tomatoes from Rocky Glade Farm
Golden Melons from Beaverdam Creek Farm
Truck loads of Sweet Corn selling out fast from the King Family Farm
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.
Bloomsbury Farm Wheat Grass
Farm Fresh picked Peaches and Cream Corn
Farm Fresh Produce and Herbs from Rocky Glade Farm
AssortedTie Dyed Clothing from Pieceful World Clothing
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.
Sweet Peaches and Apples from Rainbow Hill Farm
Kirkview Farms Purple Hull Peas and Melons
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.
Organic Bloody Mary Mix from Delvin Farms organic tomatoes
Concord Grapes from Rainbow Hill Farm
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.
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!
FFM Manager Deb with Lex and Tim from Colbert Farm
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
Ha! The forecast was for a 30% chance of afternoon rain, but apparently nobody told Mother Nature. It was a cloudy day, with off and on rain. But that did not stop anyone from coming to Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday. After all, it is the tip-top of the summer season, when just about any produce you could possibly want is ripe and ready.
Farm Sweet Carrots from Norton Family Farm
Grapes from Rainbow Hill Farm
Fresh Salad Ingredients
Bell peppers and chili peppers; tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes and corn too.
Multi colored Peppers from Gardner Grove Farm
Silver Queen Sweet Corn
Beaverdam Creek Farm Tomatoes
Cantaloupes were the big star of the show at the market and fresh peaches were also snatched up in a hurry.
Delvin Farm Cantaloupes have arrived!
Fresh Peaches from Rainbow Hill Farm
Heirloom Tomatoes from Bloomsbury Farm
But while this is the high season for delicious summer produce and fruits, it’s almost the end of the road for some of the fresh veggies and fruits. Blueberry season is coming to an end and blackberries won’t be around much longer either, so if you are a big berry lover, head to the market this upcoming Saturday. And if you are not sure what to do with all of that delicious fresh food, check out the market’s first cookbook, “Eating In Season.” You’ll find lots of great recipes from the market’s farmers and customers. It’s become very popular and is moving fast, so get yours at the market soon!
Multi colored Peppers from Gardner Grove Farm
Farm Fresh from Jones Mill Farm
Ice Cold Chocolate Milk from Hatcher Family Dairy
Of course, the highlight of the day was the little junior farmers taking a field trip around the market. They were the students from the market’s Growing Kids Educational Garden in the Park at Harlinsdale Farm and they had a big time touring the market and talking to the farmers. The kids also made off with some great market goodies too, including corn from the King Family Farm, cucumbers from Zadock the Natural Farmer, peaches from Kirkview Farm and to top it off, chocolate milk from the Hatcher Dairy Farm.
And finally, mark your calendars for August 24th. That’s the date for the Franklin Farmers Market’s popular Watermelon Festival, presented this year by our good friends at the Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine. It’s a big sweet seed-spittin’ day of fun for the whole family!
Farm Fresh from Pilgrims Produce
Potatoes from Sturbridge Farm
Fresh Basil from Colvin Family Farm
As always you can view pictures from this past Saturday’s market by clicking on “Photo’s” on the market website. Or just click here to see if you are in any of the pictures. https://franklinfarmersmarket.com/gallery/
The Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh voting table had lots of activity to select this years winners
I now have new favorites!
And the word for the day was Tomato, with a capital T. There were tomatoes everywhere you looked – red tomatoes and yellow ones; striped and purple tomatoes; big and small, heirlooms and traditional favorites. It was all part of TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday.
So many different Tomato varieties for tasting
Not only did the farms have oodles of delicious tomatoes to pick from, but there were also lots of tomato samples to try along with scrumptious bites of Italian tomato-based dishes from Amerigo.
Nothing better than Fresh made Salsa from Amerigo
Plus there was the special TomatoFest salsa, made with fresh tomatoes straight from the Allenbrooke Farm. It was truly a tomato-lover’s heaven at the market.
Amerigo Chefs Paul and Steven
Allenbrooke Farm Tomatoes
Preparation of Tomato Jam
Tomato Samples anyone?
Sharon & Jenny presenting over 15 different Tomato varieties to sample
Besides all of the great tomatoes, everyone got the chance to learn how to save tomato and other vegetable seeds. Saving seeds is important as it allows us to preserve heirloom seeds’ genetic diversity.
So much interest in Tomato Seed Saving
Farmer Zadok Johnson explaining the art of Seed Saving
Seeds are the beginning of our existence, our nourishment and how we grow our vegetables
The Johnson Family answering questions about the tomato and its seeds
Beaverdam Creek Farm wins 1st Place
But maybe the best thing about TomatoFest was the Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh! Contest between the farmers at the market. There was certainly a lot beautiful heirloom varieties entered in the contest, but the best were the ones that showed just how creative our farmers can be. The overall grand prize winner came from Beaverdam Creek Farm. It featured a “pineapple” heirloom tomato with a parrot fashioned out of a real pineapple! Kirkview Farms nailed down second place with a couple of tomatoes enjoying the day on the “beach”… surf’s up, dudes! And third place went to Flying S Farms, with their miniature farm scene, complete with a little harvest bucket filled tiny “spoon” tomatoes!
Kirkview Farms wins 2nd Place
Flying S Farm wins 3rd Place
Our thanks to Amerigo Italian Restaurant for sponsoring TomatoFest and to everyone who came out for a fun and tasty day at the Franklin Farmers Market. Tomatoes rule!
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.
www.newschannel5.com
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.
Gayle Franks and Sharon Burbage selecting Heirloom Tomatoes for Talk of the Town Show
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.
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!
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
Salad Tomatoes
Seed Saving Demonstration
Presented 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
Jones Mill Farm Heirloom Tomatoes
Norton Family Farm Cherry Tomatoes, oh so sweet!
J.R. and Judy of Jones Mill Farm putting out more Heirloom Tomatoes
So many nice ripe and juicy farm fresh tomatoes to choose from
Cherry Tomatoes and Blackberries all around the Market
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.
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.
Market customers helped themselves to fresh corn from the back of pickup trucks
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.
We are blessed to have such wonderful Farmers! Lucy’s Kitchen visiting with Pilgrims Produce
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!
Fresh farm grown Blueberries and Blueberry Syrup made just Friday night before Saturday market
A great year of nice Tennessee weather delivering wonderful CSA’s from Delvin Farms
So many farm fresh veggies to choose from
Another Chef picking up farm fresh cherry tomatoes?
A happy market visitor finding fresh apples and a sunflower
This smile says it all…A great week of farm fresh food ahead
