A local farmers market not only provides fellowship and socialization, but also encourages healthier eating habits by buyers and growing practices by the farmer. Through economic struggles, farmers markets have become key in the local and national economy, along with our food system and communities.
The Jackson County Farmers Market, located at 218 Bob Jones Rd, Scottsboro, will open for the 2024 season this Saturday from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. This year’s schedule will be on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from June to October.
Rapha Wellness, located at 1701 S Broad St, Scottsboro, is opening its back lot for up to 20 vendors to set up and sell locally grown produce from Jackson, DeKalb, and Marshall Counties. It will be held on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (256) 594-1219 or message them on Facebook to reserve a spot. The fee is $10.
Section Farm Market is located at 1505 AL HWY 71, approximately one mile from Highway 35. The market is open each day except Wednesday afternoons and Sundays. The farm market is supplied by 16 families in the area who follow the Mennonite faith and produce vegetable and herb plants, baked goods, and currently, strawberries, and more.
If you are a grower wanting to be a vendor at a farmers market, the first step is to acquire a growers permit from the Jackson County Extension Office. An Alabama growers permit allows growers to sell directly to consumers without having to pay licensing fees or sales tax for raw agricultural commodities that they raise. Next, share a copy of the growers permit with the farmers market manager where you want to become a vendor. For more information on a grower’s permit, visit www.aces.edu/blog/topics/counties/alabama-growers-permit/ or call the local extension office at (256) 574-2143.
Many growers accept the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which gives qualifying seniors $50 on a benefit card to spend on fruits and vegetables from a certified Alabama farmers market or registered roadside stand. Not every grower can accept the benefit card if they have not undergone the necessary training, so be sure to ask.
Seniors can sign up to receive the benefit card through the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ Farmers Market Authority (FMA) website at fma.alabama.gov.
- Participants must be 60 years or older on the day of applying and the household income must be 185% or lower of the 2023-2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- For a household of one, the income must be less than $2,248 monthly.
- For a household of two, the income must be less than $3,041 monthly.
- For a household of three, the income must be less than $3,833 monthly.
Growers can benefit from this program by expanding their markets to farmers markets and roadside stands and capitalizing on the increased demand created by the program. Growers can participate in the program by first obtaining an Alabama Growers Permit and then taking the needed training and completing the paperwork available on the https://agi.alabama.gov/farmersmarket.
