Jacksonville Farmers Market opens soon

Jacksonville Farmers Market opens soon

by Frankie Boston

Brenda and Bob Conn have owned and operated Triple Creek Farm Greenhouse for 34 years and have been selling at the Jacksonville Farmers Market nearly every year.

Brenda Conn said she is excited for the market to open, as she loves to see the regular customers and the other vendors. She said that it is a lot of work to get to the market (picking, cleaning and boxing up the produce and flowers), but she finds it worth it.

“It’s a lot of fun. We really enjoy it. I don’t think people realize what it takes to get stuff from the field to the table at the market,” Conn said. “It’s exciting to get back and get to see everybody every week. The customers that are the regulars they’re always excited to come, and the other sellers — we all just look out for each other.”

Conn said she wished that more people would take advantage of the market, noting that she has had many people tell her that they didn’t realize that Jacksonville had a farmers market. Conn shares that the price is comparable to grocery stores, but the value of the products is much better when customers buy straight from the producers.

Conn also said the first few weeks at the market can be slower as the planting and growing season is just starting. She said that people need to give the market time, and as the summer goes by there will be a lot more variety: “Those first couple of weeks there’s not going to be lots and lots of variety and not as many vendors, but as we get into June, there’ll be a lot more people selling stuff and there’ll be a lot more variety of the vegetables that are at the market.”

Conn said the market is a great place to be on a Saturday, and it’s not just for people looking to buy vegetables. She said that Triple Creek sells flowers as well as vegetables. The Jacksonville Farmers Market also sees vendors who sell honey, baked goods and eggs, for example.

Conn said the market is great for everyone, and she loves seeing people of all ages coming to support local farmers and small businesses.

“It’s just a good family atmosphere. People come in, they bring their kids with them,” Conn said. “Jacksonville does have a really good market.”

The Jacksonville Farmers Market’s opening day will be the first Saturday in May, May 7. It runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until the end of October from 7 a.m. to noon, or whenever sellers run out. For more information, including the market’s new location in front of Pathway, visit the “Jacksonville Farmers Market” Facebook page.

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