Henderson Farmers’ Market

The Benefits of Local Produce

Photo by Darrin Phegley

The Henderson Farmers’ Market has been a community staple for many years, although it has really taken off since it moved to the Henderson County Fairgrounds in 2013. At the market, you can expect to find the freshest produce, high quality meats, professionally made artisan goods, delicious honey, beautiful handmade crafts, and more that are all produced locally. The market is home to vendor booths from all across Henderson and surrounding counties, and guarantees a wide variety of goods that can help with any family’s weekly grocery plans. 

Former president of the Market, Amy Cates of Cates Farm, provided a rich history of the Farmers’ Market. “In the 90s, it started in Central Park and then moved to Second and Main. The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce promoted it and we became an actual organization full of local growers. The Cates Porter Pavillion at the Fairgrounds was dedicated in 2013 and that’s where we are now. It was named after my mom, Sharon Cates, and Jeff Porter, who was the local University of Kentucky Horticulture Agent for Henderson. Both have passed and it was special to dedicate the Pavillion to them because they did so much for the community.” When asked of the benefits of having a Farmers’ Market in the community, Amy stated: “There are a lot of benefits to it. It’s great to be able to buy healthier, fresher foods from local farmers and producers. You can form actual relationships with the people you buy from.”

Tim Alexander, president of the Henderson Farmers’ Market and proprietor of Cardinal Farms Peaches, had much to say about the benefits of the market for our community. “The Farmers’ Market gives local residents access to locally produced food and products and the opportunity to meet the growers and producers face to face. The vast majority of agricultural products produced in our region are harvested and shipped all over the world. The products at the Farmers’ Market are grown locally and consumed locally. When issues and concerns arise, the Farmers’ Market can be a place where growers can answer consumers’ questions directly.”

Tim continued, “The Henderson Farmers’ Market has also worked hard in the past few years to meet criteria to participate in programs that benefit food-insecure members of our community. Being able to accept SNAP benefits, WIC and senior vouchers is not a simple proposition. It requires funding and a lot of work to administer these programs. Additionally, the Kentucky Double Dollars grants we’ve received allow us to double the value of the assistance dollars these customers receive. This program is a cost share, meaning we have to raise matching funds within our community. These programs are why our community sponsors are so important to us.”

Other vendors and those who make the market happen spoke further on the benefits of the Farmers’ Market. “We cannot stress enough the significant differences in nutritional quality and density that local food has as compared to big box retailers,” said Josh Johnston of Windy Hill Farm + Home. “A notable degree of nutritional integrity is lost when food spends days on refrigerated box trucks. Real human health impacts arise from where you source your food. Also, nearly every dollar you spend at the Farmers’ Market stays in our local economy. When you purchase food from Walmart, most of those dollars leave Henderson and go to Bentonville, Arkansas, and then to shareholders across the world. When you purchase food from a local farmer, almost every dollar stays in Henderson to help grow our community.” 

Brandy Boucherie of Boucherie Winery spoke highly of the Farmers’ Market. “The biggest benefit is people being able to obtain locally grown food and hand-crafted products. There are so many health benefits, economic benefits, and so much more to the Farmers’ Market. The more people that shop local, the more variety the farmers are able to offer, as well.” EMCO Epic Growers is also a staple booth at the Farmers’ Market where you can find Brandy’s kids, niece, and nephew, Claira, Violet, Emma, and Christian, running the show. Their pumpkins and sweet corn are rumored to be top quality, so make sure to check them out if you stop by. 

Thank you to all who spoke so generously about the Farmers’ Market and to all who make it happen. For anyone interested in checking it out for themselves, come by the Cates Porter Pavillion at the Henderson County Fairgrounds on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, rain or shine from 8AM to noon to get quality produce and goods from local providers and growers. The market is only open from the beginning of May to the end of October, so make sure you go before it closes for the season. Anyone who is interested in becoming a vendor can email [email protected] to receive an application for their specific type of business. Messages can also be sent to the Henderson Farmers’ Market Facebook page. The Farmers’ Market is especially looking for local growers to continue improving their produce selection.

Shop local, Henderson! Check out the Farmers’ Market this season!