Historic winter weather won't delay opening of Farmer's Market opening

Despite Thursday's snow and the late planting season, the Nevada Farmer's Market will open as scheduled May 18, said Market Master Kelly Ast.

The market will be located in Earp Park, just west of the Nevada Fire Department on Austin Boulevard, and will be open 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday until October, Ast said.

The exact date the market will close in October is uncertain.

Ast said that for opening day she is expecting to have some early produce, like lettuce, radishes and kale, as well as eggs, handmade soap, honey and baked goods. In a couple of weeks there may be some berry's available.

This year Kathy Abele, from the Gobbler's Roost, will be a vendor at the market and will be serving lunch for the opening day and may have some furniture made from pallets.

As an added bonus the local Master Gardener's will be holding their annual plant sale at the market.

"They always have a variety of plants at awesome prices," Ast said, adding that she would like to make that an annual event.

"There will be a variety of products available," she said.

And to spark interest in the market Ast said she is planning on "holding give-a-ways the first couple weeks the market is open."

Throughout the season the Farmer's Market will have entertainment and different activities to interest consumers, like cooking demonstrations and when tomato are ripe, a Tomato Festival as well as entertainment.

In addition to produce Ast said artists and crafters are welcome.

She already knows of a person who sharpens knives who will be at the market some of the time.

Parking will be available in the lot north of the park, as well as the City Hall parking lot.

A per-day fee of $5 will be charged or vendors can pay $50 for the season. Ast said not-for-profit organizations can set up at the market for no charge.

To help sustain the market, Ast will be collecting agriculture related photographs until Oct. 15. Then she will select 12 photographs to be used on a 2014 calendar. The proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go to support the Farmers Market.

The park is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ast said. Rest rooms and electricity also are available.

She said as the peak of the produce season approaches, the market may add a second day during the week.