As local and national commentators will attest, the Tennessee General Assembly didn’t win any awards for doing anything particularly progressive this year. (Or really anything at all, depending on who you ask.) But in one act of common sense, a law was passed — and signed by Gov. Bill Lee — allowing vendors at farmers markets to sample their wares and sell prepared foods as they would at one-off special events. The new permit program amends codes in a way that supporters say helps farmers and small business owners while still assuring food safety.
