eNEWS
September 2009 > New farmers markets springing up around Florida to satisfy increased demand for local, sustainable food
President Obama, responding to a citizen’s question at an Aug. 20 health care forum, said “One of the things that we're trying to do now is to figure out, can we get a little farmers market outside of the White House? It suddenly gives D.C. more access to good, fresh food, but it also is this enormous potential revenue-maker for local farmers in the area."
One aim of the market will be to help local farmers deliver fresh produce to D.C. school cafeterias, to encourage kids to make healthier choices in their diet. Those connections are indeed being made throughout the country, and in Florida.
A partnership between the City of Wildwood and the UF/IFAS Sumter County Extension Office will open a new growers market on the grounds of the Wildwood City Hall. According to Sumter County Extension Director Susan Kelly, “the market will [draw] people from The Villages, which is a large urban center without much access to local food so there is tremendous direct marketing income potential.” The market will open in late October and will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through April.
Tallahassee welcomes a new market Sept. 3 at the Florida Department of Education (DOE). The market, organized by Dr. Jennifer Taylor and the FAMU Statewide Small Farm Program, will run from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays.
“We’re happy to be in the downtown community and to reach customers from FSU and FAMU, the Capitol and of course the Department of Education. The DOE employees are really excited and the farmers are happy too,” Taylor said.
Taylor and FAMU also worked to launch a growers market in May at Purple Martin Nurseries, on Crawfordville Highway in Wakulla County.
For more information and to inquire about becoming a vendor at the Wildwood Growers Market, please contact Susan Kelly at (352) 793-2728 ext. 236 or sakelly@ufl.edu.
For more information and to inquire about becoming a vendor at growers markets organized by FAMU’s Statewide Small Farm Program, please contact Jennifer Taylor at (850) 412-5260 or jennifer.taylor@famu.edu.