VALLEY — Today is Free Watermelon Day at the Valley Farmers’ Market. It’s the final promotion of the current season, and a good supply of freshly-picked watermelons will be on hand.

“Walter Pulliam, Ora Finley and Mr. Steele are donating the watermelons,” said Valley Parks & Recreation Director Laurie Blount. “We will have slices of both red meat and yellow meat watermelons for everyone. Mr. Pulliam will have some large watermelons for sale. They are anywhere from 50 to 80 pounds.”

Pulliam is from the LaFayette area and has been farming for most of his life. Some good rainfall this summer has helped his watermelon crop tremendously.

Finley is from Camp Hill and is running a family farm that goes back many years. He’s been helped by the rain as well.

Valley Farmers’ Market played host to a Grillin’ Day on Friday, June 22. Chambers County Sheriff Sid Lockhart and Valley Police Chief Tommy Weldon grilled everything from bread to zucchini, squash, green tomatoes and watermelon.

Free Tomato Sandwich Day was held on Friday, July 20. Paul Story, Isaac Whorton and Ray Edwards made approximately 200 tomato sandwiches for a big crowd that showed up that day.

Watermelon Day should draw another big crowd as well.

“A lot of people come out to our promotions,” Blount said.

This has been a good year for the Farmers’ Market. There have been up to ten farmers with their produce on Fridays. Other vendors have baked bread, honey and home-made soap.