Seasonal Opening of Peachtree City Farmers Market a Big Hit!

If you are looking for “Real People, Real Food and Real Taste” you need to check out the Peachtree City Farmers Market, now open each Saturday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Aberdeen Village Shopping Center.  Formerly known as Fresh Market South, Peachtree City Farmers Market features over 30 local vendors who offer a wide variety of fresh, locally-grown, organic and artisan goods. The new location at Hwy 54 and Northlake Drive is near Partner’s Pizza and Ultimate Fitness. Customers will appreciate this new site during the sizzling summer months because the area is shaded and much cooler.

Trisha Stearns, who is the visionary behind the market, is excited about the spring opening and emphasized there will be more opportunities for customers to enjoy the experience in the weeks ahead. Trisha said to expect more farmers as spring and summer crops begin to be harvested. Barbecue will be offered and chef demonstrations will be scheduled so people can learn creative ideas to use their fresh produce.

I was pleased at the number of folks who came out for the opening. I ran into several master gardener friends who really appreciate purchasing fresh, organic food from local growers. Lots of folks were looking for unusual gift ideas for Mother’s Day.

Here’s a look at some of the vendors you can find at the Peachtree City Farmers Market each week.

Country Gardens Farm & Nursery – Mike and Judy Cunningham, owners of Country Gardens, Farm & Nursery in Newnan, are back with their incredible selection of grass-fed beef, free-range eggs, raw milk, fresh produce and whole grain fresh baked bread. Don’t forget to ask Mike about the Farm Camp he is offering for kids this summer.

Minter’s Farm – Rick Minter of Minter’s Farm owns one of the most interesting and historic places I have ever seen in Inman. You might recognize him as the host of Inman Farms Heritage Days and for his wonderful Christmas tree farm. He is a fine farmer and right now is offering turnip greens, collards, mustard greens and kale at the market, along with homemade jams and jellies.

Two Doves Farm – Larry and Twila Dove from Two Doves Farm are back with their excellent selection of certified organic produce from their farm in Fayetteville. Right now they have strawberries, sunflower sprouts, broccoli sprouts, lettuce and onions.

Gaia’s Greens – Rawls Whittlesey, president of Gaia’s Greens, had a great selection of organic produce and gifts available at the market. Her company offers an Organic Box Program – fresh produce delivered to your door. There are several sizes of boxes you can have filled with organic vegetables, fruit or a mixture of both. All the produce is grown locally within Georgia and the southeast.

Straight from the Backyard – Mark Capps and Lynn Teddlie offer naturally grown and freshly harvested produce from their one-acre farm in Loganville. Lynn said she stayed up all night to freshly pick the produce she brought to the market that day! They specialize in heirlooms and hard to find vegetables. They offer 60 varieties of squash and 50 varieties of cucumbers!

James Family Farm – Bob James, of the James Family Farm in Griffin was the Grand Champion Vegetable Winner at the 2010 Spalding County Georgia Fair, winning an additional 30 blue ribbons for vegetables, fruits and products. He offers organic produce, herbs, breads, cookies, chow chow, apple butter, pickled okra, jams, diet jellies and much more!

It’s not all about the fresh produce! You will find an exciting mix of other food products and great gift ideas.

Daddy’s Home Bread, Inc. – Bernard Oparah, president of Daddy’s Home Breads is back with his hand-made breads with no artificial preservatives. You can find 7-Grain, Rye, Whole Wheat, Classic Home, Carrot Nut, Zucchini Nut, Chim-Chim and an assortment of bread baskets that make great gifts.

Merritt Jewelry – Jill Price is offering beautiful costume jewelry at bargain prices – “retail at wholesale prices” as she likes to point out! Right now you can purchase 8 pieces of jewelry for just $20. She also has unusual hand-made jewelry and jean purses.

Pet Supply and Delivery – Scott and Malissa McCune are showcasing all natural pet foods for your dog and cat. And, they offer free home delivery!

Georgia Jams – Lori Bean of Georgia Jams offers jams made from fresh, locally-grown Georgia fruits, hand-picked for optimal ripeness. You’ll find a unique line of specialty flavors that will tickle your taste palate.

Castle Rock Honey – Jerry Edwards has a surprising variety of flavors of all natural honey. Lots of people were enjoying a taste test.

Zocalo Salsas – Straight from Zocalo Mexican Restaurant in Midtown, the company offers salsa made fresh daily with natural ingredients purchased from local growers. The salsas are cholesterol free, high in protein, vegan and gluten free. You’ll find Salsa Verde, Sals Roja, 3 Chile Blend, and other salsas as well as tamales.

There are so many other vendors I did not get a chance to chat with at the opening – Let Us Garden, McCrary Farms, Black Angus Beef, Earth Essential, and many more! I hope I’ve given you just a sampling of what is in store for you when you visit the Peachtree City Farmers Market now open on Saturdays and Wednesdays throughout the growing season.