Hall Farmer's Market open for business

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County Farmer's Market greeted its first customers of the year Tuesday morning at 6:30, continuing a 35-year tradition.

The market, located for 12 years on the corner of E. Crescent Drive and Jesse Jewell Parkway, near I-985 Exit 24, provides local residents a direct line to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables and other home produced goods.

Nancy Davis of Gainesville has shopped at the Market since 1973 when it opened at Lakeshore Mall. She said she likes the homegrown produce and products.

"I've always enjoyed coming to the farmer's market; it's just something I continue to do," she said.

The market features many fruit and vegetable favorites. Vendors also offer potted plants, cut flowers, shrubs, homemade bread, locally produced honey, jams and jellies, and new this year, fresh meat and egg products.

Farmer's Market president and grower David White said the farmers are prepared to ward off the drought again this year.

"Most farmers have their own wells, they have their own water source, they have some type of irrigation, we have to," White said.

Market Manager Peggy Robinson has opened the Market for 17 years and the rule is, what vendors bring has to be locally produced.

"Some of these people make a living doing this and some people do it because Momma and Daddy did it," she said. "We just accept anybody who grows their own stuff."

Bruce Wills with 'My Daily Bread' bakes his own bread and makes his own jams and jellies at home.

"My Daily Bread is a 'mom and pop' operation, the bakery is in the garage, we have a double garage we converted into a bakery," Wills said.

The Farmers market is open every Tuesday and Saturday from late spring through summer at 6:30 a.m. and stays open until all produce is sold.