Amicalola Farmers’ Market returns Saturday

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Amicalola Regional Farmers Market will kick off Saturday, May 9^th in Dawsonville.

The market is opening on a new day in a new place. The 2020 market will be held every Saturday from 8 a.m. until sold out or noon at the brand-new City of Dawsonville Farmers Market Pavilion located on Allen Street.

The fourth season of the market is being launched by the Amicalola Regional Agriculture Committee, a program of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

Due to the current pandemic, extra precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of the shoppers and vendors such as pre-bagging produce at even dollar prices so that no coins are needed, vendors must wear masks and gloves, and requiring shoppers maintain 6 feet of distance from one another. Shoppers are also asked to wear masks at the market.

“Although this isn’t quite the way we had hoped to open this market season, we are thrilled to be able to provide a place for our local farmers to sell their fresh produce,” Dawson County Chamber of Commerce President Christie Moore said. “We are extremely grateful to the City of Dawsonville for providing space in the heart of our community to host the market.”

Making the market as locally grown as possible is a top priority for the committee. Vendors who participate in the market must show their produce is grown in Dawson County or a county that touches Dawson (Forsyth, Cherokee, Pickens, Hall, Gilmer, Fannin, Lumpkin). If there are items that are not produced or grown locally, the committee will review applications to provide locally unavailable items on a case by case basis. The committee offers the opportunity for local farmers and vendors to sell their goods at no charge.

Amicalola Regional Agriculture Committee Chair and USDA Soil Conservationist Louise McPherson said she is grateful that local citizens have the opportunity to access fresh, local produce. “We are excited to continually expand the opportunities in Dawson County for customers and vendors at our new farmers’ market location,” McPherson said. “The Amicalola Regional Farmers Market will continue to help connect local farmers with those seeking fresh food and farm-related products.  We also look forward to the time that it is safe for our local crafters to bring their beautiful and amazing creations to the market without worry of them becoming contaminated with germs.”

While crafts and artisan products typically are available at the weekly market, craft vendors will not be participating until later in the market season out of an abundance of caution for the vendors and patrons.

To kick off this market season, the local growers/bakers listed below have offered to fill pre-orders with locally grown produce, baked foods, and flowers while supplies last.

 

Offering butter crunch lettuce & cut flowers

Sandra Parker 678-596-6892

theposyfarm@gmail.com

Instagram.com/theposyfarm/

 

Offering microgreens

Adam Stinton 678-534-9112

hello@grownwithreason.com

 

Offering cut flowers and potted plants

Helen 404-219-9702

helen@slimpixie.com

 

Offering fresh greens & baked goods

Leilani’s Gardens/ Our Daily Bread

706-265-3510

leilanisgardens@gmail.com

 

The growers and vendors listed below have agreed to work with the market to bring items that are not yet in season here in north Georgia.  They will make every effort to meet your needs through pre-orders, some of which will be filled through trusted sources outside our market counties.

Offering produce

Jutt and Eli Castleberry

678-897-0472

jutcas@bellsouth.net

 

 

Offering seafood

Josh Thornton

770-530-6493

facebook.com/thorntonbrothersseafood/

 

Other vendors at the May 9^th market will be offering spring greens, honey, cornmeal, grits and eggs.

Vendor spaces are still available. For an application to participate, contact Market Manager and local Extension Agent, Clark MacAllister at clarkmac@uga.edu or call 706-265-2442.  For more information about the market, visit http://fb.me/amicalolafarmersmarket or call the Chamber at 706-265-6278 for more information.

 

The Amicalola Regional Farmers Market is run by the Amicalola Regional Agriculture Committee, a committee under the Dawson County Chamber. The market is open to vendors in Dawson, Cherokee, Lumpkin, Hall, Forsyth, Pickens, and Gilmer counties. The market is held every Saturday at the City of Dawsonville’s Farmers Market Pavilion throughout growing season.

 

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