City of Valley prepares for Grillin’ Day

Published 10:12 pm Thursday, June 21, 2018

VALLEY — Friday afternoon will be Grillin’ Day at Valley Farmers’ Market. It should be a fun day of discovering what tastes good when it’s grilled.

Chambers County Sheriff Sid Lockhart and Valley Police Chief Tommy Weldon will be there to grill items people purchase at the Market.

“We tried this on an experimental basis late in the season last year,” said Valley Parks and Recreation Director Laurie Blount. “We thought we’d do it  little earlier this year. We will be giving out free samples.”

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Favorite items from last year were lightly grilled bread with jelly on it, grilled green tomatoes and grilled peaches. Those items will be available this afternoon along with grilled squash, grilled zucchini and maybe some grilled watermelon.

“Whatever our farmers have on Friday we will grill it for anyone who wants to try it,” Blount said.

Eight or nine Alabama farmers should be underneath the pavilion from 3 to 6 p.m. EDT. The public is invited to come out, see what they have for sale and try some of the samples that are available. They are also free to purchase anything for sale and have it grilled for them.

The farmers have had some really good produce so far this year. The rainfall has helped with the yields they have had.

Among the farmers coming to the market are Bill Carson of Wadley, who will fill his table with squash, beans, kale, carrots, beets, onions, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli.

He said that June is the peak month when the vegetables start coming in.

Robin and Shannon Terry of Chilton County have peaches and tomatoes for sale on Friday afternoons. Ora Finley of Camp Hill will have turnips, mustard greens and rape on his table, and Walter Pulliam of LaFayette will have onions, red potatoes, onions, turnips, kale, mustard greens and strawberries. With spring having officially turned to summer, his rattlesnake beans, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and watermelons are starting to come in.

Judy Freeman and daughters Anna and Liana of Serenity Farms, Auburn, are among the dedicated participants in the Farmers’ Market. They’ve been coming every year since it opened in 2009. They have spoiled lots of people with their delicious baked goods such as cinnamon rolls, sourdough bread, whole wheat bread, banana bread, blueberry pies, cookies, brownies and their special treat – Whoopee Pies.

Grillin’ Day is the first of several special promotions that will be taking place at the Farmers’ Market this summer. There will also be a free tomato sandwich day and free watermelon day later on in the season.