New Winter Farmers Market brings local flavor to Unicoi

Shoppers browsed baked goods, farm products and ice cream Friday as the Unicoi Winter Farmers Market made its debut inside the Unicoi Visitor Center. The Unicoi Winter Farmers Market opened Friday, Jan. 16, drawing steady foot traffic and introducing a mix of new and returning vendors to the community. The market runs from 1 to 6 p.m. every other Friday during the colder months. For Renee Laws of Laws Farm, the event marked a personal milestone. It was her first introduction to selling at a farmers market. "This is actually my very first one," Laws said. "My cousin works here and invited me, so I thought I'd try it out and see how it goes." Laws said she has typically only sold her products to friends and family, noting Laws Farm has about 60 goats, which she milks to create goat milk soaps and lotions. "We milk the goats and turn that into soaps and lotions," she said. "We also make cheese, yogurt and ice cream, and I'd really like to expand more in the future." What started as a hobby may soon grow into something bigger, she said, with the winter market offering a comfortable place to begin. "I would like to start doing more farmers markets," Laws said. "This will probably be our main way of selling products going forward, and this felt like a good place to start." Several vendors at the market operate out of Mountain Harvest Kitchen, a local commercial kitchen that supports food-based businesses. One of them was Care's Creamery, a small-batch ice cream business already familiar to many in the region. Care's Creamery owner Caroline Plesh said she relocated to the area in 2021 and launched her business in 2022 using Mountain Harvest Kitchen. "I helped open an ice cream shop in California, so I've always been passionate about making ice cream — and eating ice cream," Plesh said. "But quality ice cream." Plesh said every part of her product is made in house, from pasteurizing the dairy to crafting toppings and waffle cones. "I truly make everything," she said. "I pasteurize the dairy myself, I control how much sugar goes into it and everything is custom. I wouldn't call it healthy ice cream, but it's made with ingredients I care about." The name Care's Creamery reflects both her approach and a play on her own name. "I care about quality ingredients and local ingredients," she said. "That's really where the name came from. I don't use food coloring or artificial flavoring. "It's just real ingredients," she added. "When someone who can't eat gluten tries one of my waffle cones for the first time, that's really special." Care's Creamery products are available at several local businesses, including The Generalist and Blue's Brews Co. in Johnson City, Boone Street Market and Neuma Coffee in Jonesborough, as well as local restaurants like the Red Fork in Erwin and Timber! She said some locations even have wholesale and pre-order offerings. "It's like having my own ice cream shop without having an ice cream shop," Plesh said. While winter weather can slow ice cream sales, she said the colder season pushes her creatively. "I get a lot of inspiration from seasonal produce, but in the winter it makes me think more about classic flavors," she said. "I know there are other people out there who enjoy ice cream no matter the season." Next to the ice cream booth, Little Bug Bakery offered fresh banana bread, chocolate chip cookies and other gluten-free desserts. Owner Jesse Probst said the Unicoi Winter Farmers Market was also her first market experience. "This is my first market," Probst said. "What started as a hobby is finally becoming a business." Probst said her goal is to create fun desserts for people with dietary restrictions. "People who can't have gluten or have other restrictions still deserve fun things," she said. "Not just the same old options everyone else gets." She said working out of Mountain Harvest Kitchen has made launching her business possible. "I couldn't do this out of my own house," Probst said. "Having a space like that gives me a place to start this dream." Town of Unicoi Mayor Kevin McInturff said in a statement that he hoped the see the farmers market grow. "We're appreciative of all the vendors and citizens that came to support it," he said. "We hope it will grow over the year. The next market is scheduled for Jan. 30." He praised new communications and event director, Mikaela Brooke, for her ongoing efforts to create more town initiatives. "One of my goals when running for Mayor was to make sure people know where Unicoi is," McInturff said. "Brooke is creative and business oriented. She's always bringing new ideas to Unicoi. Promoting the Mountain Harvest Kitchen and town activities is part of that. People will know this is their town." Other vendors at the market included Foxadise Farms, A Different Chick Farm and Orchard, Seven Oaks Market, Mountain View Farms and the Unicoi Ruritan, offering items ranging from apiary products to canned goods and freeze-dried treats. Additional dates and information for the Unicoi Winter Farmers Market are available on the Town of Unicoi's Facebook page and official website.