Farmers' Market: April - November 2013

Finally, summer is here and we can all enjoy the bounty of fruits and vegetables that East Tennessee has to offer. East Tennessee has a rich agricultural community, offering a wide variety of local foods including meat, produce, and dairy!

We are lucky to have access to heirloom fruits, vegetables, and grain such as Cherokee purple tomatoes, pesticide-free strawberries, and Hickory Cane corn in East Tennessee. We can also buy grass-fed beef, free-range chickens and eggs, and the prosciutto of the South—Benton’s bacon! Eating locally and in season can change your perspective on how incredible fruits and vegetables can taste. Eating your vegetables is hardly a chore when they’re bursting with flavor and freshness. Market season allows the farmers and artisans to exhibit their hard work and we’ve been looking forward to it since December.

Visit every vendor
There are numerous vendors at every farmers market, and each has special heirloom varieties of produce that cannot be seen in a regular grocery store. These include heirloom red, green, or purple okra, purple beans, ambrosia corn, watermelon radishes, over 20 types of tomatoes, and much more. There are also vendors who sell handmade products such as buttermilk soap, candles, goat cheese, and granola. 
 

Food
Getting hungry while picking your produce? Don’t worry! There are several food trucks and stands to satisfy your cravings. Dale’s Fried Pies, Pop Culture popsicles, Savory and Sweet truck, Cruze Dairy Farm Milk Bar and many others have specialty foods you cannot find at other restaurants.

Giving back to your community
Not only is shopping at your local farmers market a fun and delicious experience, it is a chance to give back to your community. Buying locally supports the farmers and artisans to create and expand their business. Buying locally also takes some of the guess work out of choosing foods that are safe and nutritious—as you can ask the farmer directly about his or her growing and harvesting practices. Farmers also tend to have great ideas for how to prepare the produce if it’s new to you.

Flexibility
There is a market for almost every one. Whether you live in Norris or Sequoyah Hills, there is a market open near you. Here is a list of all of the market times and locations compiled by Rebecca Simmons for FamilyFriendly Knoxville. If you’re not from this region, see Pick Tennessee Products for a list of markets all over TN. Also see Growing Seasons to find out what is in season.

Contributed by Jaanki Purohit 2013 UTK Dietetic Intern

Promoting Healthy Weight Colloquium: March 30, 2012

More information about the program and registration can be found on UT's Public Health Nutrition website.

Eat Play Live Knoxville: March 10, 2012

Wine Tasting Event: December 6th @ 5PM

KDDA is excited to host this Wine Tasting event featuring, Dr. Carol Costello, UT Culinary Institute Wine and Beer Program Director.

The event is open to the public so please feel free to bring spouses, friends, and colleagues. All attendees must be 21 years or older.

The event is $20 per person and covers several wines and heavy appetizers. KDDA is now accepting payment via PayPal. Personal checks will also be accepted at the door.

Please join us as we wrap up a very successful 2011!

Cheers!

For more information, please email us at kddacookoff@gmail.com.

Free Community Event: Cracking the Hunger Code

Do you want to learn more about disordered eating?
Check out this free community event next Tuesday, November 8th @ 6PM!
The event will be on UT's Campus at the University Center.
Door prizes will be available!

Knox Event: Celiac Disease

You don't want to miss this!!!!   Increase your awareness of Celiac Disease! Dr. Peter HR Green, Director of the Celiac Center at Columbia University in NYC and world renowned expert on celiac disease is speaking in Knoxville! The event is FREE! Wednesday October 26, 1:30 p.m. at the Wallace Memorial Baptist Church Ministry Center/ Auditorium. Event is open to everyone!

Knox Events for Weekend of April 15- 17

EarthFest

April 16 10 a.m. - 5p.m.

Pellissippi State Community College

 EarthFest is a FREE, “zero-waste” event with food, fun and entertainment for the whole family, including your pets!

• Over a hundred exhibitors and attractions 
• Take part in demonstrations and workshops that specifically define what you can do to be more environmentally friendly

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Healthy Living Kitchen, Sponsored by Food City

April 16 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.

• $40 Registration Fee
• Heart Hospital Conference Room at UT Medical Center
• Demonstration on simple low-fat recipes 
• Improving your knife skills 
• Healthy grocery shopping tips
• Learn how to select quality produce 
• How to make healthier meals
• Lunch and demo samples
• Complimentary parking
• Goody bags

Knox Events for Weekend of April 1 - 3

Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon
Saturday, April 2 - Sunday, April 3 @ Knoxville Convention Center/World's Far Park in Downtown Knoxville

• Health and Fitness Expo, Saturday, 9:00am - 8:00pm
• Covenant Kids' Run, Saturday: 6:00pm
• Wheelchair and Handcycle Participants, Sunday: 7:25am
• Marathon, Half Marathon, 4-Person Relay, Sunday: 7:30am
• 5K, Sunday: 7:45am

This year's Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is this weekend! Are you participating? If so, don't forget to pick up your race packet on Saturday at the Health and Fitness Expo. The website is full of information, including parking and weekend schedule of events. 

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22nd Annual River Rescue

Saturday, April 2 @ Various locations along the Tennessee River shoreline in Knox, Blount, and Loudoun counties

River Rescue is a community wide program that coordinates the pick-up of debris and litter along the 50-mile shoreline of the Tennessee River from its headwaters to Fort Loudon Dam. To volunteer, contact Sarah Brobst at (865) 577-4717 ext. 24 or sbrobst@ijams.org.

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Knoxville Alzheimer's Memory Walk

Saturday, April 2 @ Knoxville's Second Presbyterian Church, 2829 Kingston Pike near Sequoyah Hills

• Registration: 9am
• Opening Ceremony: 10am
• Memory Walk Ribbon Cutting: 11am

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Knoxville First Friday
Friday, April 1 @ Downtown Knoxville

 Downtown is the place to be on the first Friday of the month! Market Square and the downtown area have lots of fun things going on this Friday. You'll get in plenty of steps as you take part in the gallery walk downtown. Performances and food specials are also available. 

Knox Events for Weekend of March 25 - 27

Greenways 5K and 2-Mile Walk/Dog Jog
Saturday, March 26 @ West High School

• 5K and 2-Mile Walk/Dog Jog: 9am

The course is on the first greenway built in Knoxville back in the early 1970's. Proceeds of the race benefit the Knox Greenways Coalition, the citizen group promoting greenways in Knoxville and Knox County.

Late and race-day registration is $25 for the 5K and $15 for the 2-mile walk/dog jog. No t-shirt? Deduct $5. 

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The Second Great Cake Bake

Saturday, March 26 @ Tennessee Terrace in UT's Neyland Stadium 

• 12pm - 5pm

Do you have a sweet tooth and an eye for interesting cake decorations? Stunning cakes will be on display with samples from featured bakers. All of the funds raised will support Knox County's Imagination Library - making sure that Knox County children will continue to get free books in the mail, every month, until age 5. 

Tickets are $5 and children 10 and under get in free! Free parking available across the street.  

Knox Events for Weekend of March 18 - 20

Forks of the River Trail Race

Sunday, March 20 @ Ijam's Nature Center

• Race starts at 9 a.m. and starts/ends at Ijam's Nature Center

• Registration ends TONIGHT March 17, 2011 at 11:59 p.m.! 

This year's race course will combine wooded singletrack with pathways that traverse cropland and hayfields, covering more than six miles in length.

$10 Adults; $5 Students 14 and younger

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Rita's Annual Italian Ice Giveaway

Sunday, March 20 @ Rita's

Come and enjoy a FREE Italian Ice at Rita's in Market Square this Sunday to mark the first day of Spring! Honor this 18-year Rita's tradition from noon till 9 p.m.

 

Knox Events for Weekend of March 11 - 13

Knoxville Food Tours
Fridays and Sundays

• Fridays, 2:30 - 4:30pm (Gay Street)
• Sundays, 2:30 - 4:30pm (Market Square)

Two-hour guided walking tours with food tastings from 6 to 10 locally-owned restaurants. Participating merchants on the Gay Street tour: The Parlor, Shonos in City, Bistro at the Bijou, Coolato Gelato, Sapphire, Downtown Grind, and Mast General Store and the Market Square tour: Lenny’s, Steamboat Sandwiches, Trio, La Costa, Cocoa Moon/Koi, Sangria's. Both tours start at the Knoxville Visitors Center on Gay Street and are less than 1 mile. 

Tickets ($39) must be purchased in advance.  

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Be Great Run 8K

Saturday, March 12 @ Tyson Park

• Packet Pick Up/Late Registration: 8:00 - 8:45am
• 8K Race: 9:00am
• 2-Mile Walk/Run: 9:10am

Club Blue, a social and professional networking group that drives awareness and raises funds for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, is hosting this race. You can register online or on the day of the race. 

$30 Registration, $20 Couch Potato Entry Fee (with shirt, no participation), children 12 and under free for 2 Mile Walk/Run (no shirt)

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Gluten Free Vendor Fair
Saturday, March 12 @ the Jacobs Building at Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center

Celi-Act Knoxville will be holding its 3rd annual Gluten Free Vendor Fair this weekend.Visit Celi-Act's website for more information about the vendors as well as the speaking and cooking schedules.

Free parking; $5 cash (children 13 and under free) and $20 max per family

Knox Events: Celi-Act Knoxville's Gluten Free Vendor Fair

Gluten Free Vendor Fair
Saturday, March 12 @ the Jacobs Building at Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center

Celi-Act Knoxville will be holding its 3rd annual Gluten Free Vendor Fair this weekend. This is a great opportunity to try some samples of gluten-free food from representatives of companies and restaurants around the city, around the region, and around the country. Over 800 people attended last year. Celi-Act's website has more information about the vendors as well as the speaking and cooking schedule.
Free parking; $5 cash (children 13 and under free) and $20 max per family

Knox Events for Weekend of March 4 - 6

Women Today Expo
Friday, March 4 - Sunday, March 6 @ the Knoxville Convention Center

• Friday  9am - 6pm
• Saturday  9am - 6pm
• Sunday  noon - 6pm

The expo includes exhibitors, fashion shows, and cooking demonstrations - something for every woman in East Tennessee. Entertainment includes Gretchen Christine Rossi from "The Real Housewives of Orange County." 

Tickets are available at the door:
Adult $10
Youth $6
2-Day $15
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"Love Your Libraries" Fun Run
Saturday, March 5 @ Circle Park on the UT campus

• Registration: 6:45 - 7:45am
• 5K Race and One-Mile Fun Walk begins at 8am

Join other library supporters at the 19th annual “Love Your Libraries” Fun Run, sponsored by Comcast and hosted by the University of Tennessee Graduate Student Senate. Proceeds benefit the University of Tennessee Libraries.
Registration is $20, student registration is $10
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Mardi Growl
Saturday, March 5 @ Downtown PetSafe Dog Park and Market Square

• Fourth Annual Costume Parade for Dogs at 11am @ Downtown PetSafe Dog Park
• Festivities on Market Square: 12 - 2pm

The parade begins at the Downtown PetSafe Dog Park on the corner of Summit Hill Drive and Central Avenue, goes up Summit Hill Drive to Gay Street and ends at Market Square. The festivities include $10 microchips and rabies vaccinations, animal rescue groups, pet-related product vendors, music, and many pet-friendly restaurant patios. Proceeds benefit the Young-Williams Animal Center.
Parade registration is $15 per dog.