Milledgeville Farmers’ Market slated to begin May 3

Milledgeville Mainstreet and the vendors at the Milledgeville Farmers’ Market are gearing up for their third season opening on May 3.

The Farmers’ Market is open from May through November every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will shift from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. after daylight saving time. The location remains at 222 E. Hancock St. in downtown Milledgeville.

“We expect a good crowd this year,” said Milledgeville Mainstreet Director Carlee Schulte. “People have been waiting for it to open again.”

Items from arts and crafts to fruits and veggies to homemade bread and pet rocks will be sold at the market.

Warren Moore, market manager and three-time returning vendor, is excited for the changes in store for this year’s Farmers’ Market.

“We have new vendors this year, we have a lot more local people,” Moore said. “And of course we have a lot of the favorites coming back.”

The market will feature between 20 and 30 vendors – with almost five new vendors this year. There will also be a Bluegrass band that will play occasionally throughout the season. In addition to a new sign denoting the Farmers’ Market and parking locations, the market is distinguishing between produce grown locally and regionally.

The market classified local produce as produce grown within a 250-mile radius and regional produce as anything grown in Georgia’s surrounding states.

“It helps some of the local people who have their own gardens and that do farmers’ markets,” Schulte said. “And it also provides a healthier choice of food for people. It’s a nice thing to be able to go to an outdoor farmers’ market, it gives the community something to look forward to each week.”

Moore said one of his favorite parts of the market is the camaraderie that the vendors share.

“We not only participate in this market, but also in others, we have become a sub-family so to speak,” Moore said. “And of course we love the atmosphere.”

Moore’s business, Market Street Produce, will be selling the same popular items from last year including tomatoes, corn, squash and peppers as well as some new items like shelled beans and peas and spices including basil and mint.

Moore travels to different farmers’ markets across the state to purchase produce and this year will also be growing his own produce to sell at the market.

Market customers are encouraged to park in the lot behind the market, as well as in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church parking lot, the Huddle House parking lot, at the library or at City Hall.

“I just want everybody to come out and enjoy it,” Moore said. “I encourage the college kids to come out and eat healthier.”

Posted by Katelyn Hebert on Apr 21 2011. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.