DALLAS TWP. — New vendors, as well as long-time favorites, will be featured at the Back Mountain Farmers Market’s opening day on Saturday, July 8.
Vendors selling fresh cut flowers, flavored peanut brittle by Backwoods Brittle Company and a Mad Mallard Farm food stand will complement the market’s staple vendors such as Dymond Farms, Braces Orchard, Creek Side Gardens, Golomb’s Farm and many more, according to Mike Messersmith, former organizer of the market.
“We will have about 18 vendors for opening day,” Messersmith said.
The Back Mountain Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday from July 8-Oct. 14 at the Dallas Elementary School at 2000 Conyngham Ave.
The 2017 Back Mountain Farmers Market also has a new organizer.
Harold Koehler, new to the Back Mountain Memorial Library Board, took over organizing the market, Messersmith said.
A retired engineer, Koehler as out of town and unavailable for an interview before the Dallas Post publication deadline.
Fresh leafy greens, zucchini as well as honey, cheeses, meats, baked goods and much more will tempt consumers’ taste buds on opening day, Messersmith said.
Messersmith admits he is anxious to buy fresh tomatoes.
“There is nothing like a fresh tomato,” he said.
The market not only connects consumers with area growers and bakers but is a fundraiser for the Back Mountain Memorial Library, Messersmith said.
The market was previously held outside the library at 96 Huntsville Road in Dallas, but attracted such a large crowd that traffic overwhelmed the roads and created problems for nearby residents and the police, he said.
“We had over 1,000 people coming to the market every Saturday,” Messersmith said.
The Dallas School District allowed the event to relocate to the parking area in front of the Dallas Elementary School in 2015.
“We can’t express our appreciation enough to the Dallas School District for their support to the library,” he said.
The location provides plenty of vendor space, customer parking and better traffic flow, he said.
“There are at least 20 handicap (accessible) parking spaces,” Messersmith said. “That is something we did not have on the library grounds.”
Revenue generated by vendor space fees goes toward supporting the Back Mountain Memorial Library, which hosts a variety of programs throughout the year.
Last year, the market raised between “$8,000 and $9,000 net for the library,” Messersmith said.
