With the first day of Fall fast approaching, farmers and local vendors are setting up markets around the CSRA until the end of the season.
A community favorite, the Augusta Farmers Market takes place every Saturday morning, at 15 8th St., from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers a variety of goods until mid November.
“Honestly, my favorite part is seeing all these different people – this is what a community is,” said Chandler Cawley, who works one of the lemonade stands at the downtown market. “People are going to remember you when they leave … this is also a lot more fun than just going to Walmart. You don’t get the same kind of interactions at corporate supermarkets compared to talking with a vendor.”
Along with enthusiastic vendors, the riverwalk market also features a dog-friendly environment and live music with freshly grown fruits and vegetables, savory food and beverages galore.
“Buying fruits and veggies from somewhere local is good because then you actually know where exactly it came from, as opposed to when you buy it in a store and it could’ve come from Mexico or California,” said Tonya Churchwell, co-owner of The Veggie Patch stand. “You know what you are getting.”
In addition to educating buyers on the different farming methods used to grow local fruits and vegetables, Churchwell, who has been involved in Augusta’s farmers market for almost 10 years, said selling products in a more personal setting also encourages great relationship building.
Wallace’s Farm offers a mobile “hugging zoo.” Unlike your average petting zoo, Wallace Farms
allows you to interact with and hold the animals rather than just petting them through a fence. Photo by Cat Kingery
“We have people come back every Saturday … we have people who send us Christmas cards, and we’ll keep people’s checks and send one to them,” she said. “We try to build a very good rapport with our people, so we have a bond; for mom’s that are pregnant, we call the kids little ‘veggie patch’ kids, and then we get to see them after they’re born. We really do try to keep up with all of them.”
Like many other vendors and business owners, Churchwell believes consumer relationship building goes hand-in-hand with offering quality products that aim to protect one’s overall health.
To fellow business owner Porcha Small of Cozmic Beauty, buying alternative skin, body and hair care products at a local market is important, because she believes consumers put too much trust in large corporations who utilize very harsh chemicals that clog the pores and poison the skin over time.
“A lot of soaps have lye, and lye is a cancer causing agent … so we’re really keen on educating people about the benefits of using more natural products,” she said. “Like a lot of people have eczema and they’re giving children steroids to help, but steroids are really terrible for the body – but these products can help with that.”
Although the community is made up of many different skin pigmentations and hair types, Small said she makes her products with everyone in mind, because beauty and care are selective.
“Skin is skin. I don’t care what color it is because the most important part is moisturizing; the level of moisturization needed is the only thing that separates it,” she said. “Some people do feel like that matters, but I don’t because a natural product, a good product, is for everyone. All natural actually works, and that’s where education and communication is key.”
While many businesses advertised themselves through participating in the market or by sponsoring, weekly customers are able to promote their company by wearing colorful shirts, hats or even having their pet sport a logoed bandana.
Chase Brannen, father of two and owner of Dominion Dog Training, said he often has his latest dog accompany his family to the farmers market for easy and positive exposure.
“What I do is sell trained dogs that I’ve worked with, and this is a great way to make connections,” he said. “It lets people know what I do, and also allows me to walk around with my kids while the dog gets acquainted with a busy environment. We have a great time, and even if you don’t come and sell anything it’s a good way to get into people’s minds, which is a big part of being successful.”
For those looking to explore other farmers markets within the downtown area, the Veggie Park Farmers Market takes place from 4:30 to 7 p.m., on 850 Laney Walker Blvd, every first Friday of the month, and on every Thursday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at 631 Chaffee Ave. until December.
Visitors can engage in conversations with farmers, artisans, and fellow shoppers, encouraging a sense of connection. Photo by Cat Kingery
In Columbia County, until the second week of November, the Evans Farmers Market will start back up Saturday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 7025 Evans Towne Center Blvd.
Featuring almost 50 vendors, Aiken County’s Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 115 Williamsburg St. SE.
For more information about Augusta’s Farmers Market, or to become a vendor or sponsor, please visit: https://www.theaugustamarket.com/.
