Salute to Farming 2026 A Production of the Newport Plain Talk
A Way of Life FARMERS MARKET FACEBOOK
A variety of homemade foods, including baked goods, are available at the Newport Farmers Market.
Newport Farmers Market to see changes for new season The Saturday market will be held in the city hall parking lot, 300 East Main Street. NEWPORT — The 2026 The Wednesday market will season for the Newport Farm- be held at the old Newport ers Market will be kicking off Police Department parking lot in May. at 330 East Main Street. According to Farmers She said food trucks will also Market Coordinator Regina be a part of the Wednesday Thornton, “The season market this season, and they will include several exciting will remain open until 2 p.m. changes that are expected to Thornton said she was very support the market’s continued pleased with last year’s market, growth and long-term success.” pointing out it was their first She explained that this year, full season. the market will be open two “We had many great vendors days per week and the season throughout the season, and has been extended by an addi- they consistently came with tional month. quality products and competThis year’s season will run itive prices. The community from May through October, response was very encouraging with the market being open and showed strong support for on Wednesdays and Saturdays See MARKET, B2 from 9 a.m. until noon. KATHY BARNES
KATHY BARNES
Bobby Chambers looks in one of the greenhouses on his farm. The farm has 32 greenhouses.
Chambers Farms has been growing crops since 1974 KATHY BARNES Reporter
BYBEE — Farming is more than a way to make a living. It is a way of life for Bobby and Carla Chambers. The Chambers are well known farmers off Glendale Road in the Bybee community. Bobby, 62, is a full-time farmer. His parents started farming the land in 1965, he recalled, so he grew up on the farm. He explained that in 1974 the Chambers family planted their first tomato crop in Cocke County and this year they will be growing their 52nd crop. Bobby said his parents started the farming operation and he is the second generation to carry on with the farm. He credits his wife, Carla, with helping keep the farm running. “Carla works out here on the farm, too. She knows how to take care of everything. She runs the produce stand and sells the crops,” he explained. He said Carla, who has taught at Newport Grammar School since 1984, works on the farm when she gets out of school and on Saturdays. She runs the produce shed and greets customers. Carla loves being on a farm, too, and she said, “There is nothing like the farming life.” Things have changed on the farm throughout the years, and the operation has adjusted with the changes that were necessary. The farm now has 32 greenhouses. One greenhouse is used for growing the plants for the crops. The other 31 greenhouses are used for growing produce. Bobby gave a breakdown of what is grown in each greenhouse. 11 greenhouses for strawberries Two greenhouses for cucumbers
Reporter
KATHY BARNES
Carla and Bobby Chambers are shown with their dog, Massey, in front of a greenhouse where strawberries are grown on their farm.
Two greenhouses for okra Three greenhouses for sweet corn Three greenhouses for cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce Nine greenhouses of tomatoes with two rows of yellow and zucchini squash One greenhouse for jalapeno, banana and bell peppers Discussing tomatoes, Bobby explained they grow red, yellow, green, candy stripe, purple, Roma and Big Pink tomatoes. They also have orange, purple, red, yellow and purple cherry tomatoes. Outside on the farm they grow several kinds of beans, including half runners, turkey
craw, peanut beans, contenders, Roma, blue lake and rattlesnake. Several kinds of vegetables are grown in the fields. Those include: Sugar snap peas Lettuce Broccoli Cauliflower Cabbage Onions Cucumbers Yellow squash Zucchini squash “We only sell what we grow here on the farm,” Bobby said. “We don’t buy from other farmers and then resell. We are 100% farmers who grow what we sell See CHAMBERS, B2
FARMERS MARKET FACEBOOK
Patricia Pence of Faithbrook Farm is shown during a demonstration at the Newport Farmers Market last year.