Davis, WV— The Highland Market, in Davis, strives to support small farmers in the region while providing the community with healthy food. After three and a half years of business, the biggest need within our local food system is food preservation: fermenting, canning and freezing summer’s flavors.
Farmers are able to grow more fruits and vegetables but they can’t sell it fast enough before it becomes animal slop, so we and other food hubs in the region are stepping up to the plate.
Early this year, several regional players in the local food system sat together to derive a plan of how we were going to work more cohesively to move closer towards sustainability with our local food producers and buyers. The dominant needs were distribution and increased food processing. There aren’t many options for processing in our region and this is where the Highland Market can help out.
There’s only one canning facility, Gourmet Central in Augusta, WV, a freezing facility is currently being built at the Garden Market in Philippi and no fermenting facility to speak of.
Amongst the Highland Market team, we possess the necessary skillsets to utilize each of these three preservation techniques and will implement those which are in highest demand and need. With this increased preservation of fruits and vegetables, farmers will be able to increase their annual production and revenue, therefore gaining them more financial stability. This will also increase the availability of minimally and mindfully processed produce for our customers and will maximize nutrients in the food on our winter plates.
In November 2016, with the help of the Tucker Community Foundation, our fiscal sponsor, and the Value Chain Cluster Initiative, we applied for a grant with the USDA to allow us to purchase equipment and install a large processing kitchen and increased cold and dry storage in the basement of the Highland Market.
This grant requires a match so we are hosting a Breakfast Brunch Fundraiser June 11th to contribute to that fund. All foods will be locally sourced and mindfully prepared for your nutritious enjoyment. Please inquire at our brick and mortar at 737 William Avenue in Davis.
In the meantime, the Highland Market team busily cooks up prepared foods for our customers weekly. We just opened our new Salad & Soup Bar which is open during business hours so people can come and grab a quick healthy meal. Additionally, our Real Food department is always expanding and with the addition of a third full time employee this year, we have been able to offer even more dips, soups, sides and baked goods for your enjoyment.
The Highland Market is a project of the Potomac Highlands Food & Farm Initiative, fiscally sponsored by the Tucker Community Foundation. The Highland Marke supports the local and regional farming and eating community.
