By Andrew Wilkins

Ahead of Saturday’s first Rabbit Valley Farmers Market of 2025, its market manager gave an update on the market and its non-profit’s work to promote local agriculture.

“We’re trying to create a more sustainable food system,” said Samantha Leslie, market manager and executive director of its non-profit. “We want people to take ownership of that.” 

Shoppers can expect fresh produce, meats, baked goods, fresh flowers, arts and crafts, and home goods like fragrances and skin care products at the market. As a producers-only market, everything sold at the market is from vendors located within a 150 mile radius of the market. 

For the full list of producers, see this post on market’s Facebook page. She said she expects about 50 vendors for opening day, and 30 to 40 vendors for the markets throughout the season.

Downtown Ringgold, at 96 Depot St., is where the market is held. It runs from 9 am to 1 pm, begins on Saturday, May 3, and runs through the fall.

She said the market is planning a friendly market competition with the LaFayette Farmer’s Market, to highlight cooperation between the markets and show people more good can get done collaboratively.

Growing agriculture

The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market was founded in 2020, its website said, as a way to increase business for local farmers and revitalize local businesses after the pandemic.

“There’s more of a sense of community,” … “The entire environment, the atmosphere, creates a better way of life.”

– Samantha Leslie, describing farmers markets

This season, Leslie said farmers are planting more produce because price increases at grocery stores have made farmers market products more competitive.

Another plus for the market’s farmers, she said, is a grant from Nourish North Georgia that buys each market’s unsold produce so it can be given to Christ Chapel‘s food pantry in Ringgold. There’s some funding from last year’s grant remaining, and Leslie said they’ve applied for funding again this year.

More than $3,000 worth of produce was donated from last year’s market because of the program, she said.

The City of Ringgold has also approved raised-beds for its property downtown, Leslie said. The raised beds will be used as a teaching tool during workshops for aspiring backyard farmers.

An example of a raised gardening bed, from the Tractor Supply Co. website.

A food forest and apiary (for bee keeping) nearby the market in Ringgold is also being discussed.

“The goal is to encourage community members to take these skills and put them to use at their homes, including having their own raised planter bed,” she said of the projects.

Last season was the first where the market sold more produce than arts and crafts, Leslie said, a sign to her that people are starting to buy into the market’s mission to support local agriculture.

One of her farmers has been able to quit his job and farm full time, she said with pride. He’s farming through the winter now, and has expanded to sell at a market in Chattanooga too.

Why farmers markets?

It’s clear Leslie is passionate about local agriculture, but why should people shop there as opposed to corporate grocery stores?

She said it’s healthier, fresher, and there’s something to be said about meeting your farmer. The farmer can tell you how their produce is grown, how to cook it, or even help you discover a new vegetable. 

“There’s more of a sense of community,” Leslie said. “It is more enjoyable to shop for your food where you can get a complementary cup of coffee which we have, and you can listen to some music. And your kids can search for the bunny in a scavenger hunt and get $2 to spend, and you can meet up with friends— and make new friends— and bring your dog out.”

***