Article submitted by Darla Huffman: The weather was beautiful for the second annual Tri-market Salas Final and an enthusiastic crowd was chatting and tasting the salsas, 3 piñatas’ were destroyed by eager children and prizes were awarded to the salsa winners. Jaspers popular chef, Hans Rueffert, judged both the Canned and Fresh categories and not only generously donated his time but also a Woodbridge Inn gift card for the 3 biggest winners.

Well know local Chef Hans Rueffert was the judge of the Salsa contests

The winners in the Fresh category were, Vivian Tritt, first place and Cristi Wheeler who won both Second and Third place; in the Canned category Loreen Nitti won first place, Carla Buras, second place and Roxanne Janes, third place. The judged winners all got cash prizes. Peoples Choice winner, Charlotte Sims, was chosen by the crowd, who tasted and voted for their favorite Salsa.

Roxanne Janes, Vivian Tritt and Carla Buras were some of the winners in the Judged contest

A basket of farmers market products was the prize for the peoples choice winner, Charlotte Sims

Christine Wheeler was a vendor (shown here in her booth) and also a winner in the judged contest

The prize for this was a gift basket full of some of the wonderful things from the market. A big thank you goes to all the vendors who donated items for this basket (too numerous to list here) and to Hans for his ongoing support of the market.

Some of the contest winners were at the Jasper market for the first time, just to be in this contest. One was a vendor who won the prize at the River Church market and brought her merchandise to the Jasper market along with her prize-winning salsa. ‘Cristi’s Creations’ are a variety of handmade products from fabric, yarn and other things. She donated a cooling neck piece to the prize basket, a good thing to wear as the day warmed up. She did well at the market and may be back, so come by and welcome her.

It was great to have Jackie and Colline Cantrell finally at the market Saturday. They have plenty of produce now, but had been delayed a month due to weather, wildlife and insects. There was corn and watermelons, both yellow and red, and a lot of tomatoes, which he hopes to have from now to frost (as he usually does have).

The Jasper Farmers Market is held on Saturday morning (April through October) and Wednesday morning (June 18 through August) from 7:30 am to 12 noon in the Park n Ride lot at Lee Newton Park on Hwy 53 in Jasper; except for Marble Festival activities. New vendors are always welcome; items sold must be handmade or homegrown. The Jasper Farmers Market is a project of the Pickens County Master Gardeners. See www.pickensmg.org for more information and complete vendor rules or call the County Extension Office at 706 253 8840.