An 18-year tradition returned to Elon on April 3: the Elon farmers market. Students, such as Elon senior Lauren Dathe, have been anticipating its return.
“I’ve been counting down the days,” Dathe said.
Elon senior Sam Hinton proudly displayed a sticker purchased at the market.
“It’s great to see people from the community come out,” Hinton said, “especially because I think Elon can be so separate from the rest of Burlington and Alamance, so it’s really sweet to see more intermingling.”
Sarah Bass, Elon farmers market manager, said they are expecting about 25 stands each week, though she expects that number to fluctuate as crops are harvested on different farms at different times.
“There are all kinds of things people would like to come out and sell,” Bass said. “And I think that’s neat, I think that speaks to the uniqueness of people.”
Bass also said that this year’s market would see more community group involvement than in previous years. Organizations such as the public library, master gardeners and Alamance Community College will be at the market on a regular or semi-regular basis.
“That’s part of why we’re out there, too, is to educate,” Bass said.
In addition to increased community group involvement, the market has some new vendors this year. Jonathan McCauley of Wild Lavender Apothecary, a Mebane-based company that sells candles, marked his first time as an Elon farmers market vendor yesterday.
“My wife and I are extremely passionate about local economy and building up the local economy,” McCauley said, “so any time that we get to invest in a community that’s small like ours, we take pride in that, and we really enjoy it, which is why we decided to come and do this.”
The market also has many returning vendors. Branwyn Aday of Asgard Farm, which has been a market vendor since 2021, said she was enthusiastic for summer because she looked forward to answering questions from kids visiting the market with summer camps.
Bass said the market dates back to 2007, when it was started by Elon Community Church. It was later run by the nonprofit Authentically Alamance Farmers Market Network, and then it was transferred to the town of Elon two years ago.
“Out of all the farmer’s markets I’ve been to, it’s pretty lowkey, and I like that,” Dathe said.