EASLEY—Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell has declared the week of August 18-25 as Farmers Market Week in the City of Easley.

Farmers Market Manager Lisa Garrett says this provides a great opportunity for Easley residents to find out more about their local Farmers Market.

“The first week in August is Farmers Market Week throughout the United States, and so every year Mayor Bagwell declares a week in August as Farmers Market Week in the City of Easley,” said Garrett. “It’s simply to encourage people to buy local, support their local growers, and to visit our local Farmers Market.”

Garrett says the week will begin with a proclamation from the mayor himself.

“We’ll have the mayor out Saturday morning to sign the proclamation for Farmers Market Week,” said Garrett. “As people come into the market on Saturday we will be encouraging them to buy as local as they can.”

Garrett says business has been steady thus far this season, but hopes this week will get more people out to the market.

“We have a lot of our regular customers that come every week,” said Garrett. “We want to encourage people to buy local, know where their food comes from, and know how it’s grown. We want people to know their farmer, come talk to them, and learn how they grow their food.”

Garrett says new customers are constantly dropping by.

“We have people every week come and say ‘This is our first time here. We didn’t know you were here,’” said Garrett. “Each week it seems like we get more and more people. It’s been great this year.”

While the focus has been on spreading the word, Garrett says it has been a more than successful season at the Farmers Market.

“We’ve had more value added vendors come this year and it has been really great,” said Garrett. “It’s been really exciting.”

Different seasons have managed to bring in different customers, and Garrett says the market will host a variety of activities depending on the week.

“People come based on the season and we always have a good turnover,” said Garrett. “Something is always new at the market.”