Market season is upon the CSRA. The Augusta Market opened back up last month, and the Evans Market kicked off Saturday morning.
Farmers collective Augusta Locally Grown, or ALG, has been offering markets for 15 years, and boasts having facilitated more than $1 million in sales for local farmers since launching in 2008. Its latest initiative, going on its second year, is the Laney Walker Market, also started back late last month. It opens every First Friday at 850 Laney Walker Blvd. from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. through October.
“All the markets have a different atmosphere and may have some of the same farmers or different farmers,” said Diane Kerekanich, development director with ALG, noting that each market has its own manager who coordinates its activities and vendors. “All our markets have a positive atmosphere and a sense of community.”
Thursday saw this year’s reopening of ALG’s Veggie Park Market at the HUB for Community for Innovation on 631 Chafee Ave. It will open every Thursday at the HUB from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. through December. Veggie Park started in 2012 to increase access to produce and other healthier food options to inner-city Augustans, regardless of income.
Locally Grown expanded to McDuffie County this year, launching another farmers’ market along the Dearing Walking Track. The market in Dearing opens the second Friday of each month at 4683 Augusta Highway, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and will also continue through October.
Through its partnership with Wholesome Wave Georgia, a statewide nonprofit organization that promotes making locally grown food available to the needy via various community programs, ALG accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits and EBT cards.
Every Friday at noon, ALG opens its online market, a unique amenity for produce shoppers it’s offered since it began. The online market opens every Friday at noon and closes Sundays at 9 p.m. Shoppers can select their items and pick them at one of four locations, or, for some areas, have them delivered by Augusta ToGo (though shoppers using EBT would have to go to the downtown HUB site).
Among ALG’s live, open-air markets, Veggie Park is currently the largest. The organization estimates some 300 customers visited on Thursday evening.
“It’s hard to mention just a few of our farmers,” said Kerekanich, as more than 70 farmers and producers that sell regularly with ALG between all of the markets, and nearly 100 growers overall partner with the group to sell and grow their small businesses.
“All farmers are local to the CSRA and commit to sustainable growing practices,” she said, including urban and backyard farmers. “Most are organic or certified all-natural. They may grow fruits and vegetables, raise animals and sell eggs, meats, dairy, herbs, and plants. Some also produce soaps, lotions, chocolate, coffee, sauces, pet foods, etc. “
For more information about Augusta Locally Grown, visit www.augustalocallygrown.org.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
