Back at the Market
Blooming bulbs and cracking baseball bats can only mean one thing: springtime.
But nothing rings in the return of spring like Alabama’s famous farmers markets.
New this year is the addition of the 29th Street side, which more than doubles the amount of vendor space.
The Market at Pepper Place held its grand opening in Birmingham on Saturday April 11. Coordinators of The Market at Pepper Place invited all to celebrate 15 years of connecting Alabama family farmers, food producers, artisans and local chefs and musicians with the Birmingham community. Hours at Pepper Place each week are 7 a.m. to 12 noon, rain or shine.
“Know Thy Farmer” Pepper Place kicks off a year of celebrating the faces behind the food that have been such an integral part of the market community throughout the years.
The spring season market nearly doubles in size this year with the addition of 29th Street vendors, a 29th Street music stage and spring season chef demonstrations. Coordinators say that visitors to the market will find everything they need to establish their own produce gardens; farmers selling an assortment of seedlings, including a variety of heirloom tomato plants; and a vendor who provides education and services for installing raised garden beds in your own backyard.
This year marks the year of “Know Thy Farmer,” a year of celebrating the faces behind the food who have been such an integral part of the market community throughout the years.
“We are looking forward to an exciting market season,” says Cathy Sloss Jones, chair of the Market at Pepper Place. “We have built invaluable relationships with local Alabama farmers and artisans over the past 15 years, and we are thrilled to take this opportunity to celebrate them.”
The market kicked off the start of the season Thursday, April 9, with a Prelude to the Market party from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the deck of the Pepper Place Market District center parking lot. The event marked the launch of a new market website and introduced one of Birmingham’s own, photographer Michael Weintrob, to the Pepper Place Pop Up, and renowned Austin, Texas, musician Jason Blum. Stone Hollow Farmstead served food and Cantina and Back Forty Beer Co. provided libations for the evening.
Spring greens are in abundance this time of year at markets across the state
Beyond Birmingham
Birmingham is host to a number of farmers markets, including The Jefferson County Truck Growers Association’s Alabama Farmers Market — an open-air and indoor facility on Finley Avenue in north Birmingham that’s open seven days a week, rain or shine. But there are many markets throughout the state worth a visit.
Be sure to visit the farmers, artisans and craftspeople at these markets:
- The Tuscaloosa County Truck Growers Association: open Tuesday and Saturday mornings along the Black Warrior River.
- Auburn’s Market at AG heritage Park: open Thursdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., hosted by the College of Architecture.
- Mobile’s Market on the Square: open Saturday mornings.
- Foley Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Chicago Street Farmers Market: open Friday afternoons and evenings.
- Market at Dothan: an online market that features a small group of niche growers and producers promoting sustainable agriculture.
Additional Links:
Pepper Place: http://www.pepperplacemarket.com/#themarket
Alabama Farmers on Finley: http://alabamafarmersmarket.org/
Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosarivermarket.com/
Auburn: http://agriculture.auburn.edu/community-industry/the-market-at-ag-heritage-park/
Mobile: https://www.facebook.com/MarketsInMobile
Foley: http://www.localharvest.org/chicago-street-farmers-market-M30672
Dothan: http://marketatdothan.locallygrown.net/
