TD Saturday Market Opens New Season May 7

Popular market expands site; broadens customer base with new program

GREENVILLE, SC – May and June 2011 – The TD Saturday Market launches its ninth season May 7, providing farm-fresh produce, baked goods, meats, cheeses, seafood and other specialty foods to Main Street in downtown Greenville each week. This year’s market features a new logo and an expanded site, from Court Street to Washington Street, to accommodate its record 53 vendors. In addition, the market will implement the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), providing shoppers with the option to use Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards when purchasing fresh produce.

According to Angie Prosser, the City’s public information and events director, the influx of vendor applications that the City received for the 2011 season reflects the increasing popularity of the market. Adding new vendors is a great way to not only support the local farming community, but to also provide shoppers with a broader range of produce and prepared foods to choose from each week, said Prosser. With the addition of SNAP, we hope to widen our customer base and increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables.

SNAP clients will have the ability to use their EBT card to purchase market currency, in the form of wooden tokens, at the market information tent located at the intersection of Main Street and McBee Avenue. Market EBT tokens can be used to purchase eligible food items from market vendors. The nationwide program is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

TD Bank is proud to partner with the City of Greenville as the title sponsor of the Saturday Market, said David Lominack, Market President for TD Bank. Supporting the communities where we live and work has long been one of TD Bank’s core values, in addition to supporting programs that promote and celebrate both diversity and a better environment. The Saturday Market is a perfect example of this philosophy, and we are thrilled to once again be a part of this great event.

Along with providing fresh produce each week, the market will also offer free monthly educational events in the It’s More than Just a Market activities area. Children will have an opportunity to learn first-hand about items found at the market through a variety of how-to classes, including cooking, gardening, preserving and going green. The area will also feature live acoustic music and cooking demonstrations performed by local restaurant chefs.

The TD Saturday Market is open Saturdays, May 7 through October 29 (excluding October 15), from 8 a.m. to Noon on Main Street at McBee Avenue. Additional market special events include Penske Touch-a-Truck day and the Autumn Harvest. For more information about the TD Saturday Market, visit www.saturdaymarketlive.com or follow the event on Facebook at facebook.com/saturdaymarket and Twitter at twitter.com/saturdaymarket. A schedule of events is provided below.

TD Saturday Market
May 7 – October 29
8 a.m. – Noon
Main Street at McBee Avenue
Schedule of Events

It’s More than Just a Market
May 7 – October 29
Live Music – 8:30 a.m. – Noon
Cooking & Educational Demonstrations – 10:30 a.m.
*Visit www.saturdaymarketlive.com for specific details

Penske Touch-a-Truck
June 4
8 a.m. – Noon
The free event will feature various vehicles including large trucks and heavy equipment from the City’s Police, Fire and Public Works Departments, commercial companies, industrial companies and rental companies.

Autumn Harvest
October 29
8 a.m. – Noon The TD Saturday Market Autumn Harvest will offer an assortment of seasonal produce, gourmet foods and colorful flowers from over 40 different market vendors. The market will also feature a morning filled with special events, including children’s trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving and a Fall Fare Cook-off.