[87], A report conducted by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations in 2018 found the top three infrastructure needs in Grainger County, with transportation at US$108 million, water and wastewater at US$11.4 million, and recreation US$1.7 million. [13][75] With a cost of living around $2,600, and an average housing cost of $420 monthly, it is one of the least expensive counties in Tennessee. Tennessee Valley Stories Grainger County Tomato Festival Nothing stirs the memory of long ago summers than the sight of a plump red tomato. Fax: 828-236-1280. . 7480 Rutledge Pike Rutledge, TN 37861. [33] In the years after the American Revolutionary War, the number of settlers continued to increase. Grainger County tomatoes have in recent decades become nationally and internationally renowned. Then all of a sudden, theyre finding their way to East Tennessee., Your email address will not be published. Grainger County tomatoes have in recent decades become nationally and internationally renowned. There booth is in front of the . It included mineral baths and waters, an enormous resort hotel, a swimming pool and bathhouse, a springhouse constructed as a gazebo, private cabins, and a golf course. tomatoes. The shop is the only full grocery store in town, so opening in the midst of a pandemic hasn't posed many problems.
[17], During the early and mid 20th century, moonshining became popular and spread throughout many communities in the county. You can load the map to see all places where to pick tomatoes in Tennessee, TN for a better overview and navigation. The Grainger County Tomato Festival is in July this year. Ritter Farms is a second generation family farm owned and operated by Stanley and Tonya Ritter. The lake begins with its first source at Poor Valley Creek in Hawkins County, extends through Grainger County and neighboring Hamblen and Jefferson counties. Stratton Farms 496 Cameron Rd. "There's no comparison to our tomatoes. Fathers Day is coming up for all kinds of dads, but if yours is fit and active, he might appreciate a fitness-related gift. [97] The last Democratic presidential candidate to ever carry Grainger County was Andrew Jackson in 1832. Like all of East Tennessee, Grainger County has long been overwhelmingly Republican, . Weather Wednesday: Atlantic Hurricane Season, Grainger County tomato farmers have good season despite festival cancellation, COVID-19 cancels Grainger County Tomato Festival; farmers remain optimistic. Buzzard Rock is the summit of the mountain at an elevation of 2,530 feet (770m) above sea level, making it one of the highest points in Grainger County. His grandsons are learning the ropes. [19], In 1946, Grainger County suffered the loss of its third courthouse in Rutledge to a massive fire. We just need the customers to know where to come and get them. Tomatoes, Produce, Farm, Agriculture, Local Grown Produce, Family Farm, Plants, Retail Fresh. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Required fields are marked *. The Grainger County Tomato Festival is held to promote Grainger County agricultural products, specifically the Grainger County Tomato, and to promote the many local artists, authors, talent and craftsmen in the county. We mainly focus on tomatoes, but we also grow beans, cucumbers, pepper, okra, squash, zucchini, and onions. [34], The cave is not open to visitors and is closed to the public as of 2005.[33]. [26] At the time, the raid was reportedly the largest workplace raid in United States history. This infamous crash, along with several other fatal crashes along the narrow two-lane stretch of U.S. Route 11W in Grainger County, gave it the nickname "Bloody Highway 11W. Rutledge TN A cold snap three weeks ago slowed the ripening of tomatoes, but farmers said they are back on track. Facebook; . In total, Cherokee Lake has 28,780 acres of surface area and extends for 400 miles of shoreline. County Agent 5 seeds cost 3.00 10 seeds cost 6.00 25 seeds cost 11.00.
Available: Our Grainger County tomtatoes will be offered all the way from May - October. [91], Knoxville Utilities Board provides electricity to southwestern Grainger County including the city of Blaine and the community of Powder Springs. Get directions, reviews and information for Longmire Farms in Rutledge, TN. Shopping. [86], The Grainger County School district has one high school, one middle school, four elementary/intermediate schools, one primary school, one K-12 school, and one alternative-placement school. 865-828-3308 Region: East - Grainger County Method of Sale: Farmers Market, On Farm Sale Additional Information: We are located 4 miles on Lakeshore Road from Hwy 92 or 13 miles on Lakeshore Road from Hwy 25 E (375 Hwy). Come see us. There are some 1,500 farms and about 35,000 acres devoted to vegetables in the Volunteer State, and the states vegetable industry is worth nearly $75 million. The lake is fed by multiple sources, including a series of natural creeks and runoff waters. With over 650 greenhouses, and 500 acres devoted to this wonderful fruit, Grainger County is home to great tasting tomatoes. Simply because people have got to eat and they weren't eating out. [13][72], In 2018, Grainger County was reported to have over 650 greenhouses, 923 farms producing 500 acres of field vegetables, and nearly 90,000 acres of farmland. Friday evening will feature the Opry, a live performance by local musicians and singers. They probably also sell tomato plants if that's what you mean, although as a gardener I would go to a good garden center. Good appearance, top quality, and great flavor is what we are all about. Nonprofit Organization. Learn about PIERCE FARMS -they've been supplying Ingles w/ Grainger County TN tomatoes for over 30 yrs! Search Results Turley's Tomatoes TURLEY'S TOMATOES About Turley's Tomatoes We specialize in locally grown tomatoes.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 23,527 people, 8,959 households, and 6,510 families residing in the county. Help sustain our work. I bet you have. [13], Since the 1940s, the county's tourism and recreational industry nonetheless sparked once again after the Tennessee Valley Authority's creation of Cherokee and Norris Lake in the southern and northern parts of the county respectively. For more information, see our privacy policy here. Stratton Tomato Farm will be having early varieties of ripe tomatoes from the greenhouse on our farm starting in May. [21], On May 13, 1972, 14 people were killed in a head-on collision between a Greyhound double-decker bus and a tractor-trailer hauling carpet on U.S. Route 11W in the Bean Station area of the county, making it the deadliest automobile accident of its time in Tennessee. The median age of a resident in Grainger County is 44.2.[48]. Ever heard of a Grainger County Tomato? Still another reason for the success lies with the farms themselves. Like all of East Tennessee, Grainger County has long been overwhelmingly Republican, due to its powerful Unionist sentiment during the Civil War. So, what is it that makes a Grainger County tomato taste so good? Grainger County Tomato Festival TN: . 37861, Region: East [71] The tomato has been the major crop, though cattle raising continues to important gains.
The Grainger County School district has 3,637 students enrolled. [94] The eastern portion of the county, which is the most populated region, does not have access to a sewage treatment system.[95]. Fresh market tomato production is about half of that value, says Annette Wszelaki, vegetable specialist for the University of Tennessees Institute of Agriculture, so tomatoes are extremely valuable to the state.. He opened Sunfresh Produce directly across the street. There are four small towns: Rutledge, the county seat, Bean Station, Blaine, and Washburn. There's a Walmart at the south end of town -- 1414 Parkway, Sevierville. In addition to the tomatoes, Stratton Farms also produces a wide array of cucumbers, squash, peppers, and green beans. 148 were here. Facebook. Farming is changing, time and time again over the years, and we're actually getting better at it," Carver said. You can also find other Retail Shops on MapQuest . Some parts of TN have excellent conditions for growing tomatoes; I don't know about TX tomato growing conditions/challenges other than it is very hot there. The population density was 74 peopleper square mile (29 people/km2).
About. . Soon, the Grainger County tomato will hit produce stands across the region. There are not that many jobs available as far as industry goes, but there is a lot of farming that can be done on these hills," said Anthony Carver, who serves as the director at the Grainger County UT extension office. According to a data profile produced by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development in 2018,[68] the top employers in the county are: Grainger County is acknowledged as a predominately rural and exurban county of the Greater Knoxville region. The median age was 38 years.
Bulova has been making reasonably priced high-end timepieces for men and women since 1875. TN 37814 Phone: 423-581-5630 [25], On April 5, 2018, Southeastern Provisions, a cattle slaughterhouse in the county,[26][27] was raided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); 11 workers were arrested and 86 more were detained, all of whom were suspected of residing in the United States unlawfully. "My grandpa, my dad, all the way back, you know, we farmed all my life," said Lillard Stratton, whose age prevents him from spending long days on the farm. The Grainger County Tomato Festival was organized in 1992 to promote our world famous Grainger County Tomatoes. The following list are some areas Extension can help with. Photos. [16] The resort had attracted some of the wealthiest people in America during this time. Rutledge TN, 37861. The main source of water in Grainger County is man-made Cherokee Lake. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000", "FROM CAPITOL HILL TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY GET TO KNOW YOUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS", "Using the Social Ecological Model to examine how homelessness is defined and managed in rural East Tennessee", "The United States: By Rural, Urban and Exurban Counties", "Why Grainger County, Tennessee, Tomatoes Are So Tasty", "WHY THE TOMATOES GROWN IN THIS RURAL TENNESSEE COUNTY ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD", "Least Expensive Place To Live In Every State", "Land use regulations must be considered", "German Creek homeowners fighting commercial development", "2020 Annual Report: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy", "Estimated Cost of Needed Infrastructure for Grainger County Five-year period July 2018 through June 2023", "East Tennessee Rural Regional Transportation Plan", "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections", Grainger County Chamber of Commerce website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grainger_County,_Tennessee&oldid=1152314401, General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge - Lane Wolfenbarger, Administrator of Elections - Gina Hispher, Historical Archives Director - Stevvi Cook, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 13:45. The farming hasn't always been all about the tomato though. He said this has been the best picking week all season.
Went to festival last weekend, unfortunately bought 2 boxes of homegrown tomatoes. Come see us. Grainger County is limestone country, and it's the limestone-based soil that makes the tomatoes both sweet and tart. The box should have said greenhouse tomatoes instead. A lot of the farmers in Grainger County still have wholesale arrangements (for marketing their crops) because of the sheer volume theyre dealing with, Wszelaki says, and many dont have the time to go around to farmers markets and things like that., However, more farms are using the fresh-to-consumer approach to selling their tomatoes and other crops, according to Wszelaki. , Vanleer, TN 37181, 1000 Old Nashville Highway, McEwen, TN 37101, 14520 Hwy. Copyright 2023 WVLT. [10] In 1801, Rutledge was selected as the county seat. A cold snap three weeks ago slowed the ripening of tomatoes, but farmers said they are back on track. The flavor comes from the variety of plants farmers choose to grow. Farm Flavor profiles America's hardworking farmers and ranchers who produce our food, fuel and fiber, connecting consumers to the country's vital agriculture industry. All of which are family-run. The produce grown at Stratton Farms is sold locally and as far north as Michigan. Joppa Mountain is located along the Clinch Mountain ridge in central Grainger County in the unincorporated community of Joppa. Like many farms in Grainger County in East Tennessee, the Stratton Tomato Farm grows the crop in both fields and greenhouses. "We strive to have more of a flavorful tomato rather than a shipping tomato," Carter said. Cabbage Patch Farms. Rtledge, TN 37861 865-621-5261. In the year ahead, the Battle of Bean's Station pitted the forces of Confederate General James Longstreet against a Union forces under General James Shackelford in a planned surprise attack that failed for Confederate forces through the critically poor decision-making of Longstreet's staff. We are a small agricultural community with a population of approximately 22,800. Click below to donate or volunteer. 227 Davis Road 7480 Rutledge Pike, Rutledge, TN, US 37861 7480 Rutledge Pike Rutledge, TN 37861. Grainger county is a rural county whose primary industry is agriculture. Find information on exactly where our food comes from, along with delicious recipes, helpful tips and reliable data. Stratton Tomato Farm will be having early varieties of ripe tomatoes from the greenhouse on our farm starting in May. Grainger County Tennessee. On November 18, 2000, over 800 people from all over the United States attended an all-night dance party known as the "Rave in a Cave" in Indian Cave. Your email address will not be published.
The dual method helps ensure that tomatoes are available from spring well into fall. Additional Information: Were close to 50,000 plants under plastic. 07-23-2022 to 07-23-2022. Grainger County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. In the post-Civil War era, a businessman named Samuel Tate constructed a large Victorian-style luxury hotel just west of Bean Station that became the main focus of a resort known as Tate Springs. The racial makeup of the county was 98.41% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. A young girl shows off a pair of tomatoes during the 2019 Grainger County Tomato Festival. 18 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA, 4775 New Harvest Ln, Knoxville, TN 37918, USA. Owner Kim Stratton is a third-generation farmer, and he said that while farming can be tough, he appreciates all the support he has received over the years from customers near and far. [3] Its county seat is Rutledge. Around thirty-thousand festival-goers across the state of Tennessee and the United States gather to witness events about the county's heritage and its significant agricultural impact across the state of Tennessee, enjoy live music performances, purchase local produce and handmade gifts, and take part in arts and crafts events. Return to home.