HURRICANE — The Putnam Farmers Market will kick off its 15th season at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 4, on the grounds of Area 34, 971 W.Va. 34, Hurricane.
From berries and lettuce to edamame and potatoes, Connie Boggess, president of the Putnam Farmers Market, said she is excited to have more than 25 vendors this year selling in-season produce, as well as locally raised meat, farm fresh eggs, maple syrup, local honey, fresh flowers and value-added products like jams, jellies, soaps and baked goods.
“Some people will take and develop their agriculture for value-added products like your jams and jellies, baked goods and so on and so forth,†she said. “If they grow strawberries, then they’re making strawberry jam or they’ll do some baked goods, that kind of stuff, which is awesome. That makes it even more unique to this area as it’s all local.â€
Vendors’ produce and goods must be from within a 50-mile radius of Hurricane, according to Boggess.
“Everything has to be within 50 miles; it has to be grown and shown that it’s grown here by you,†Boggess said. “If you make something, it needs to be manufactured by you here.â€
Vendors include Hope’s Harvest Farm selling corn, green beans and heirloom and Cherokee carbon tomatoes; Mountain State Bison Farm, based in Braxton County, will have bison meat; Amandus Family Farms will sell chicken and pork; and Feather Ridge Farms will have quail eggs and has also been making freeze-dried candies as a way to supplement their adventures with animals, Boggess said.
“We have just a variety of different things like that; we have quail eggs, which is a uniqueness to our market,†Boggess said. “There’ll be herbs, herb plants, we have a flower farmer — which is amazing, to have fresh-cut flowers from a local producer.â€
In addition to farmers and growers, the Putnam Farmers Market has several vendors, including some Tamarack artisans, selling handmade jewelry, pottery, crafts and more. The Putnam Farmers Market is 60% producer and 40% artisan based, Boggess said. Boggess’ own soap business, Good Horse Scents, will be set up at the Putnam Farmers Market, and vendors such as Tonja Runyon Arts, Vibrant Mountain Lady and Ricardina Jewelry and others will have jewelry for sale. As well as resin jewelry, L&L Eggs and Produce will have value-added products available for purchase.
“Everybody who spends money here, the money goes right back into our community, if you look at it,†Boggess said.
The last Saturday of the month during the farmers market season is kids day, and children who visit the market receive a certain number of coins to spend back at the market, Boggess said. The Putnam Farmers Market also accepts EBT, SNAP and SNAP Stretch, a program that allows SNAP users to double or triple their spending power at West Virginia farmers markets, roadside stands, mobile markets and more. A few vendors are also now registered to provide WIC, and senior vouchers are available beginning in July.
“The beauty of this market is that we have served this community for 15 years,†Boggess said.
For those supporting the market on EBT, Boggess said while they have the option to go somewhere else for food and goods, they can stretch their dollars more at Putnam Farmers Market.
“If you are a parent and you bring your kid, then you’re going to double your earnings that you can spend right back at this market,†she said. “You can stretch your dollars.â€
Several vendors are affiliated with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s (WVDA) West Virginia Grown branding program, such as Good Horse Scents and LeJa Produce. Wired Possum Coffee and Boggess’ own Putnam Provisions Company will also be set up during the season selling drinks.
“That gives us our out for reaching the community, so that’s what is kind of fun,†she said.
Boggess has been involved with the Putnam Farmers Market since 2017 and became president in 2021. One of her goals has been to help organize pop-ups throughout the year.
“We’ve done pop-ups to help our farmers because farming’s year-round, and if people have produce, eggs, meats year-round, we’ve done offseason pop up markets inside here at Area 34,†she said.
Boggess said it’s important to support local growers, farmers, makers and producers because they are your neighbors and fellow community members.
“These folks are investing back in here to provide for not only themselves and their families, but also this community,†she said. “So it’s a really a unique opportunity for folks to support their local farmers — these are all local folks.â€
Buying produce and other edible goods from local farmers markets allows customers to ask questions and interact with growers and producers, Boggess said.
“You know where it comes from, and you can ask people questions,†she said. “We’ve all invested a lot of time and energy into seeing that this market is successful and productive.â€
Boggess’s business, Putnam Provisions Company, is also a registered WVDA Farmers Market, and many of the vendors who set up at the Putnam Farmers Market have their jewelry, coffee, produce, granola, pepperoni rolls, meat, eggs, seasonal produce and more available for purchase there year-round.
“When I bought the place, I wanted to give people the opportunity to sell all the time,†she said.
Putnam Provisions is located inside the Area 34 building at 971 W.Va. 34 in Hurricane, and its hours are 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
The Putnam Farmers Market takes place each Saturday from May through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“See you on ‘May the Fourth,’†Boggess said. “We’re trying to get our names out and we’re trying to do different, wonderful stuff.â€
May 4 is also the date for Hurricane’s Main Street Spring Festival, featuring entertainment, vendors, photo opportunities and more from 1 to 5 p.m. on Main Street. Admission is free.
