The Brainerd Farmers’ Market will host its first annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ Contest on Saturday. The O’Neill Family Farm will supply the pumpkin, ready for Jack-O-Lantern carving and pie making.
Participants can try to chunk a pumpkin as far as they can to win a free pumpkin. Or it their aim is better than their distance, try the tomato toss. Chances to win are $2 for a punkin’ chunk and $1 for the tomato toss.
Greens, potatoes, peppers, root veggies and more are in at the farmers' market. In addition to fresh harvest produce, the Brainerd Farmers’ Market features prepared meals, fresh bread, fresh eggs, locally raised meats, naturally made home cleaning products, kombucha, healthy pet foods, hand-crafted home decor and fashion adornments.
The Brainerd Farmers’ Market is the only venue in Chattanooga that those in need of nutritional assistance with EBT can double their purchase dollars at every market. The Brainerd Farmers' Market was the first local farmers' market in Hamilton County to accept EBT cards and has since inspired other area markets to take the same step. The Outreach for the “Double SNAP Dollars” program is made possible through a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, the Episcopal Diocese, and generous gifts from community members. SNAP recipients may bring their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to the market and obtain tokens which may be used to purchase fresh local produce, dairy products, meat products, honey, preserves, baked goods, plants used to produce food at home and much more.
The Brainerd Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the corner of Brainerd Road and Belvoir Avenue in the parking lot of Grace Episcopal Church. The market is open to the public and features local foods and crafts for the community from May through December each year. Grace Episcopal Church, a 501(c) 3 non-profit, provides fiscal sponsorship and the physical location for the weekly farmers' market. Grace Episcopal Church is at 20 Belvoir Ave. across from the Bi-Lo on Brainerd Road.