Celebrate the Grand Opening of the Southside Farmers Market
Local Food Takes Center Stage on May 10
May 08, 2018
Soon, residents of the Southside will not have to go farther than the Walker-Ford Community Center, located at 2301 Pasco St., to purchase locally-grown fruits and vegetables.
The grand opening of the Southside Farmers Market will take place on Thursday, May 10, from 3-7 p.m. Vendors will be selling fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits, eggs, seafood and more.
“This farmers market will help close the gap between residents of the Southside and easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” City Commissioner Curtis Richardson said. “Having healthy produce that is within walking distance will make a world of difference to the families and children living in this area and benefit the entire community.”
The grand opening event will feature a cooking demonstration by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office (UF/IFAS). Chefs will show participants how to prepare seasonal vegetables, cook up local favorites and will teach healthy cooking techniques. Local radio personality Joe Bullard will broadcast live from the event.
In the spirit of health and wellness, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare will lead participants on a one-mile walk, highlighting features of the Greater Bond neighborhood, at 6 p.m. Registration to participate in the guided walk is not required, and an inaugural Southside Farmers Market t-shirt will be given to participants while supplies lasts.
Tallahassee’s Southside is considered a food desert, which is an area without ready access to healthy and affordable food. This market aims to improve access to fresh produce and other goods for local residents. To that end, the market will offer diverse payment options for produce and wrap-around services, such as wellness screenings. To promote year-round support for the market and local farmers, coupon vouchers will be distributed at area schools, churches and community centers. A frequent guest card will also be provided, and those who visit the market at least six times will receive a gift.
Plans are also underway to incorporate a Fresh Food Rx program into the Southside Farmers Market. Working in partnership with healthcare providers, this program will provide healthy food vouchers for individuals managing chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.
The Southside Farmers Market will be open every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 3-7 p.m. from May through December. Future market days are as follows:
- May 10 and 31 (note schedule change due to Memorial Day holiday)
- June 14 and 28
- July 12 and 26
- August 9 and 23
- September 13 and 27
- October 11 and 25
- November 8 and 29 (note schedule change due to Thanksgiving holiday)
- December 13 (note schedule change due to Christmas holiday)
For more information, including details about becoming a vendor, visit Talgov.com/FarmersMarket.
The Southside Farmers Market is a collaborative effort between the City of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Invest Health, area neighborhood associations, CarePoint Health & Wellness, Neighborhood Medical Services, Bond Health Care Center, Whole Child Leon, UF/IFAS Leon County Extension, Tallahassee Food Network, Second Harvest of the Big Bend and others.
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