Knox County's New Harvest Park Farmers Market will open for the season on Thursday, April 14 at 3 p.m. with new programs and activities to make it the best year yet! The market, open every Thursday from 3 until 6 p.m., is located at 4775 New Harvest Lane just east of the Target on Washington Pike.

Products for every taste and interest will be available on opening day. Early spring vegetables, berries, eggs and dairy, meat products, prepared salsa, sweet baked goods, and even handmade soaps, candles, and jewelry will be offered. And for a special treat, Cruze Farm's hand churned ice cream, the first batch of the season, is on the menu.

In addition to always featuring fresh, locally grown and produced foods, this year's market will present Third Thursday special events focusing on "how to" programs about all aspects of growing, preparing, and even eating the goodies from a garden. On the third Thursday of each month, the Pellissippi State Community College Culinary Institute in conjunction with The University of Tennessee will demonstrate techniques of preparation, share recipes, and provide cooking instruction using a variety of in-season produce found at the market.

Another new element of the market is the community demonstration garden taking shape at the park. With assistance from the county's Agricultural Extension program, gardening workshops are planned for each step of the growing process, from soil preparation and amending, to planting and maintaining, and finally reaping a harvest. The first program, Gardening 101, will be presented at 3:30 on opening day.

Schedules for the culinary and gardening programs will be available on the Knox County website, www.knoxcounty.org/parks, and on the New Harvest Park Farmers Market Facebook page.