The Winter Blues Farmers Market was held today at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center with 134 West Virginia farmers/producers. Bakery
Christy's Cupcake Creations
Chunky Monkey Sweets LLC
Flavor Mutt
Gibson's Goodies
Honey Do Produce
Lettie Janes
Mama Faye's Fudge & Confections
Mrs. Mel's Nana's Kitchen - They offer many "friendship breads," and I opted for a small salted caramel loaf.

Olden Days Farm and Cottage
Page's Sourdough
Pixie Sweets
Runway Farm
Sycamore Farms & Primitives
The Bluespoon Bakehouse & Catering - This former brick-and-mortar has scaled back, and they are focusing on baked goods. I have a pepperoni roll to try.

The Wild Ramp/Coalfield Development
Tibbenham Chocolates
Triple B Eatery
Willie's Candy
WV BAKr Bath & Body/Candles
Auntie Di's Emporium
Blooming Blessings Greenhouse
Hills & Holler Apothecary
Keep It Simple
Mountain Momma's Mindfulls
Sudsberry
The West Wildflower Co
Wild Mountain Soap Company
WildKat's Herbal Oasis, LLC Hemp
Genesis Mountain Farm, LLC

Pet
Bella and Beau's Biscuits
Buddy N Beast
Pawsitively Delish

Artisan
Blue Thistle Fibers, LLC
Bugtussle Farm
Butterflies From Heather Haw Run Farm - Mini sourdough pepperoni rolld caught my eye, so one went home with me.

Headline Books
Hidden Springs Farm
JEM'S Creations
Moonraker Alpaca Farm LLC
Rock Lake Community Garden

Canned Goods/Jams and Jellies
Dark Hollow Foods
Handmade WV Market
JarHead Farms Keep It Simple - I grabbed a jar of blackberry jam.

Kelly's Fresh Produce & More
Legacy Foods
Mountain & Marsh Trading Co LLC
Sassafras Mountain Farm LLC
Sol de Montani Chile Ltd Co
T. L. Fruits and Vegetables
Tarbilly's BBQ
Tipsy Roo's
Uncle Bunks
Uncle Frankies
Williams River Farm - These folks specialize in two products: strawberry jam and strawberry syrup. I finally got a jar of the jam to try. Yates Sorghum - Sorghum speaks Appalachia to me. I picked up a small jar, but I had a hard time deciding between this and the apple butter.

Goods
Arbaugh Farm
Boone Memorial Hospital
Capitol Conservation District
Firstfruits Flour LLC
Food is Medicine
Front Porch Gifts
Ilar Homestead and Bakery
J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works
Solar Holler
St. Albans Farmers Market
South Charleston Farmers Market Unity Sisters Farm & Mear Mae's Meadow - Eggs and these radish microgreens have a little bite and are absolutely addictive.

Wildlee Made
WV Department of Agriculture Regulatory
WV Department of Agriculture Apiary
WV Grown
WV Farmers Market Association
WV Food and Farm Coalition
WV State University Extension

Freeze Dried Treats
DARN Good Candy
Harvest Trails Co.
Mike's Munchies LLC
TC Treats LLC - These Bits-o-Honey are even better in freeze-dried form.

Snack Items
Angie's What's Poppin Shoppe
Buffalo Creek Provisions
Cerealsly Delicious
Goldilocks Grazing
Mountain Juice Co
Sassy Gals
Something Good In WV LLC The Barefoot Farmer - I picked up some vanilla pecan granola here, which will be perfect for a crisp or with yogurt.

The WV Pickle Guy
Trail Top Popcorn
We B Fryin Snacks Maple and Honey
Family Roots Farm - This Wellsburg-based farm has my heart. They are good people creating high-quality products, and I can't wait to try the maple mustard I purchased.

Lavender Hill Roost
Ronk Family Maple Farm
Treats From Trees
Howe Sweet It Is
Larry's Apiaries
Oldham Sugar Works/Fruits de la Rose
R & A Honeybees LLC
Rimfire Apiary
Simply Bee
Sugar Bottom Farm
Tyler Creek Farm
Woodhaven Farm

Meat and Dairy
Angelos Italian Sausage
Custard Stand Chili
Forest Heights Farm - They had little meatballs samples and sell heritage bred beef. I got one lb. to try put.

Lost River Butcher Block
Middle Mountain Farmstead - Pork chorizo was calling my name. But I've never actually cooked it. Give me your tips! Novak Farm - I purchased some pork kielbasa, which I am hopeful the maple mustard will pair perfectly with!

Parsons Ridge Farm
Perk Farm Organic Dairy
Quicken Farm - ramp brats that I am already dreaming up how I can use. Taylor Family Farms & Custom Meats - I picked up some cowboy cut ribeyes. Produce and Plants
Green Thumb Botanicals LLC
Gritt's Farm
Herd Dirt Compost
Mountain State Fungi - I missed out on them last year, so I was sure to get some dried pearl oyster mushrooms.

Muddy Mountain Flower Farm
Sassafras Mountain Farm LLC
Sloping Acres - It's rare to find black walnuts for sale. I learned this when I was working on a column about them. So I was excited to see these available.

WV Herb Association

Coffee
Aroma of the Andes Coffee
Bean Theory Coffee
Mountain Folk Coffee
Mountain Table
Sibling Coffee Roasters
The Black Dog Coffee Company

Jungle Jim’s International Market is one of Ohio’s most iconic food destinations, known for combining grocery shopping with an over-the-top, immersive experience. It is often described as part international market, part theme park.



The business was founded by James “Jungle” Jim Bonaminio in 1971, starting as a modest roadside produce stand in Hamilton, Ohio. His focus on fresh produce and customer interaction quickly set him apart.



As demand grew, Jungle Jim expanded beyond produce into international foods, specialty items, and hard-to-find ingredients. What began as a small operation steadily evolved into a regional attraction.



The original Jungle Jim’s location is in Fairfield, Ohio, and it remains the flagship store. This location is famous for its sprawling footprint, maze-like layout, and elaborate themed décor.



After decades of success with one location, Jungle Jim’s expanded to better serve the greater Cincinnati area. This led to the creation of a second store in Clermont County.



Jungle Jim’s International Market Eastgate opened in 2012 in the former bigg’s space near Eastgate Mall. The opening marked the brand’s first major expansion beyond Fairfield.



Shoppers at Jungle Jim’s can find products from more than 70 countries, ranging from imported snacks and spices to specialty meats and cheeses. The selection is intentionally vast and often surprising.



Beyond groceries, Jungle Jim’s incorporates entertainment elements like animatronics, themed villages, and live seafood tanks. These features reinforce the brand’s reputation as a destination rather than a standard supermarket.



The Eastgate location was designed using lessons learned from the original store, resulting in a more modern and open layout. Aisles are wider and navigation is more intuitive.



While Eastgate shares the same playful spirit, it feels less chaotic than Fairfield. Many shoppers describe it as easier to shop while still offering plenty of visual fun.



Eastgate carries the same extensive international selection, including rare sauces, global snacks, and specialty beverages. The inventory closely mirrors Fairfield with occasional unique displays.



Signature visual elements, like creative hot sauce installations and themed sections, give Eastgate its own personality. It balances whimsy with functionality.



The store also hosts tastings, promotions, and community events tailored to the eastern Cincinnati suburbs.



Cheese lovers will find an unparalleled selection with around 1,400 different cheeses from dozens of countries, including unusual and artisanal cheeses not typically available in U.S. supermarkets.



The produce department often features exotic fruits and vegetables — think rambutan, dragon fruit, and other hard-to-find items — that can turn a trip to Jungle Jim’s into a tropical tasting.



In the meat and seafood sections, adventurous eaters can encounter things like alligator or camel meat and other unique cuts that reflect global eating traditions, though availability varies by season.



Jungle Jim’s has a vast Asian noodles section in its international department, where you can explore everything from Thai rice noodles to Japanese soba and Chinese vermicelli, reflecting the diversity of Asian cuisines under one roof.



Jungle Jim’s truly lives up to its name as an international market by offering products from more than 70 countries around the world, with aisles organized by region so you can explore Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and beyond.



Bakery items such as pepperoni and jalapeño bread are local go-tos, and quirky finds like pickled quail eggs or insect candies have become cult favorites that people buy just for the experience.



Grade: A

Brooke County Farmers Market is a small, weekly pop-up market. The Kookie Jar - gourmet cookies I tried a Kentucky butter cake, which was lovely. Flynn Flower Farm - mixed bouquets Beautiful! G-ma's Jelly & Jams I took home a jar of peach. Harms Honey Local honey is always best. And look at this baby morel mushroom candle. Homemade Happiness - breads, scones, rolls Of course, I had to try a pepperoni roll. And, there were a handful of other vendors who I will need to check out next time. I believe the market has moved to a new location since my last visit. So, I look forward to checking that out. Have you been?