“Local farmers have additional venues to sell their produce this summer as local farmers markets open.
The Opelika farmers market opened Tuesday, and the Loachapoka market will open Friday. Jean O’Donnell with the Loachapoka farmers market said their market offers a variety of locally-grown produce and homemade goods.
“This is our third year,” O’Donnell said. “We’re not a huge market yet, and because we stipulate that the items be local, it’s not ever going to be a giant market. But a few of our vendors are organic farmers, which is really cool.”
O’Donnell said the market will grow through the summer as farmers have more to sell through the season. She said farmers tend to try different markets in the area to see what client base fits.
“We don’t charge a fee to our vendors, because we’re trying to support their efforts in farming,” O’Donnell said. “It’s the most important job in the world, other than being a mother.”
The Loachapoka market takes place every Friday into the fall from 3–6 p.m. near the corner of Park Street and Stage Road.
Jan Gunter, community relations specialist for the city of Opelika, said the Opelika market has the same hours on Tuesdays in the courthouse square.
“It will go every Tuesday afternoon throughout the summer,” Gunter said. “It’ll go through August at least, and sometimes, if the crop season has been good, they’ll carry it through September.”
Farmers interested in becoming vendors at the Loachapoka farmer’s market can contact market manager Jeff Harbaugh at 334-887-6614.” Kristen Oliver | Opelika-Auburn News
