By: Mark J. Crawford, Editor
September 27, 2007

The new year already has exciting things in store, including the January opening of the Bradford Farmers Market.
County commissioners have approved allowing the founders to use the site of the Bradford County Health Department for the market.
With a site chosen, the founders, including Sam Williams and Marilyn Dye, are working to develop rules for the market and generate interest in participation.
"We see it as a way to help preserve Bradford County's agricultural roots," Williams said.
Farmers markets allow growers to cut out the wholesaler and the long trip to the auction market, she said.

"Instead, growers rent a space at the local farmers market and sell direct to the consumer, and keep the money in Bradford County," said Williams.
"Lou Popolusus, of Arcadia Farm, a seller at the Union Street Farmers Market in Gainesville, told us that he can take his eggplant to the wholesale market for 10 cents a pound, or sell it direct to the consumer for $1 a pound. That 90 cents a pound is the difference between getting by and making a decent wage."
Assistance with establishing a nusery, greenouse, hydroponics operation, row crops, fruit orchard or other agricultural operation is available through the Bradford County Cooperative Extension Office.
People with even half an acre of land can reap a profit while providing fresh, locally grown produce to their neighbors. There will be space at the market for small growers as well as entrepreneurs.
"It can be an incubator for new businesses, a force for economic development," Williams said of farmers markets. Some business owners, like the owners of downtown's Whole Earth Granary, got their start in a South Carolina farmers market.
From homemade preserves and relishes to baked goods, cut flowers and even arts and crafts, farmers markets provide a quick, inexpensive way to offer customers personally prepared products they can't get elsewhere.
Farmers markets not only provide a wider variety of seasonal produce, they do so in a more economical and efficient way that can save consumers money and benefit the environment.
"Our nation's produce is bathed in diesel," Williams said. "It takes one to two weeks for product to get from the fields to the grocery store. The average trip for a piece of 'fresh' produce is 3,000 miles."
By contrast, she said fresh produce picked the same day or the day before has more nutrients, better flavor, travels far fewer miles and is competitively priced.
A farmers market can also help people live a healthier lifestyle, including those with limited incomes. Williams said Bradford County is fifth in the state when it comes to overweight residents and 40 percent of residents are at or below the poverty level. Federal funds through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program can provide coupons for WIC (Women, Infants and Children) recipients and low-income seniors to get more fresh produce into their diets once a certified market is operating in the county.
"Those are federal funds that flow into the hands of local growers and stay in Bradford County," Williams said.
The farmers market will tentatively be open from 8 a.m. on noon on Saturdays from October through June, beginning Jan. 5, 2008. The health department, located on U.S. 301 North next to Bill Adams Chevrolet, was chosen as the site in part because of the covered walkway that can protect customers and sellers from the elements. Additionally, tents can be set up on the front lawn, and the back parking lot can be reserved for growers selling produce directly from their trucks.
The farmers market provides an opportunity to educate the community as well, Williams said. The health department will be able to complement the market by providing information on healthy living, and other departments like the sheriff's office can get involved by offering safety information, child finger printing, etc.
County Manager Jim Crawford said he was impressed with the organization that had gone into getting the market to this point, and he applauded those involved in establishing the market. County Chairman Eddie Lewis agreed.
"When I was coming up, that's what this whole county was," Lewis said. "That's what this county was started on, and I'd love to see it come back."

Questions about getting involved?
A workshop for farmers, producers and entrepreneurs interested in becoming involved in a local farmers market will be held Saturday, Oct. 20, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Bradford County Extension Office, 2266 N. Temple Ave. in Starke
There is a $5 dollar registration fee, and registrants should call (904) 966-6224 to reserve their spot by Oct. 15.
The program will be broken down into the following topics by the instructors listed:
-Farmers Markets Are Great. Learn how to make it work based on other success stories. Analysis of market trends based on recent consumer opinion polls. Jim DeValerio, Bradford County extension agent.
-Counting the Costs: Making a Business Plan. Get a list of resources to help you succeed. Marilyn Dye, Bradford Farmers Market founder.
-Setting Up a Successful Selling Area: How to Merchandise Your Product. Engage your customers' senses and make it easy for them to buy from you. Sam Williams, local producer and seller.
-Creating "Sticky" Customers. Find out how to build a loyal customer base, and develop profitable relationships. Sam Williams.
-Discover Farmers Markets in Florida. Local market managers share their experiences, market schedules and rules.
Anyone interested in becoming involved is welcome. Refreshments will be served.

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