IT’S BACK — The Brooke County Farmers Market has returned, with a variety of produce and other food vendors on hand from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. each Wednesday at the Dollar General Market at the intersection of state Route 2 and Cross Creek Road/Bruin Drive in Wellsburg. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — From fresh cherry tomatoes and zucchini to home-made pies and jarred preserves, the Brooke County Farmers Market offers an assortment of locally grown produce and other food and goods each Wednesday outside the Dollar General Market.

Visitors also will find different food trucks each week at the market, which is held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. near the intersection of state Route 2 and Cross Creek Road/Bruin Drive.

The trucks are an addition to the market, which is being coordinated this year by Tia Graham of Graham Acres, one of several vendors that recently opened it for the season.

“We’ll have more vendors as the season progresses,” said Graham, who added there usually are about a dozen booths with a variety of produce, home-made food and hand-made goods by mid-season.

While it’s still early in the growing season, visitors to the market in its first week were able to find slicing and cherry tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, zucchini and squash.

Britney Hervey Farris of the family-owned and run Family Roots Farm of Wellsburg said they were able to raise tomatoes earlier in the season by planting them within a high tunnel, a smaller form of greenhouse.

In addition to other early produce, the farm offered strawberry jam, maple syrup and salsa made with tomatoes, onions, garlic and to give it a slightly sweet taste, a bit of maple syrup.

Melanie Thompson, who was busy bagging zucchini and squash for customers of Fowler Farms’ booth, said they hope also to have tomatoes for sale in the not distant future.

Ruth Brown, a farmers market regular, is known for her many pies, cookies and other baked goods.

She also brought assorted jarred preserves and onions and garlic, which her helper, Charlene Johnson, recommended roasting with potatoes or blending into mashed potatoes for a unique flavor.

New to the farmers market were Jeffrey and Angie Livingston of Homemade Happiness by Angie of Hooverson Heights brought assorted treats, most made with sourdough.

Made simply with flour, salt and water and with no preservatives, sourdough is a healthier option among breads, said Angie.

Jeffrey noted his wife began baking the bread for themselves during the pandemic before branching out to their neighborhood’s community yard sale, with their son standing along the road with a sign when not operating his own lemonade and sweet tea stand.

“She often comes home from work and bakes. She’ll tell you it relaxes her,” he said.

Graham noted her own venture was launched as a sideline with her husband, Patrick.

Both are beekeepers and produce beauty products made from bee’s wax as well as home-made soap.

A blacksmith with his own forge, Patrick has created decorative items, knives and fireplace tools from metal.

“It started as a way to cut boredom during COVID and turned into a thriving business,” said Tia.

She welcomes others interested in selling at the market, especially produce, to contact her through the Brooke County Farmers Market Facebook page.

She noted the West Virginia Department of Agriculture requires that goods sold at the farmers market be produced within a 50-mile radius, but vendors need not be based in Brooke County.

Senior citizens 60 and older who fall into certain income levels may obtain vouchers from the department for purchases from farmers markets, roadside stands and other community supported agricultural programs.

For information, call the Brooke County Senior Center at (304) 527-3410, ext. 1.