October 06, 2025
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is proud to announce Marigold Farmers Market, located in the heart of the Historic District of Winterville, as one of five recipients of its 2025 Farmers Market Grant Program. The market received $2,000 to enhance marketing, vendor support, and community programs that bring farmers and neighbors together.
Meeting every Saturday from April through mid-December, Marigold Farmers Market serves as a true community hub. The market partners with local organizations, including the Historic Doctor’s Museum, Winterville Arts Council, the Winterville Community Garden, and the Winterville Library to create a welcoming gathering place for families, farmers, and food lovers alike. Managed by a farmer-led board of directors and committee, the market is home to 40 vendors representing Clarke, Oglethorpe, Madison, Barrow, Oconee, and Elbert counties.
One of the market’s signature features is its co-operative booth, which gives 10 small farms a platform to collaborate and sell produce collectively. The booth provides tents, tables, and a customer-friendly layout while supporting crop planning, forecasting, and data collection. This setup helps small farms increase efficiency, maximize profits, and gain the experience they need to enter larger markets.
Beyond the Saturday market, Marigold Farmers Market strengthens the local food system through its donation program. Farmers, community members, and the Winterville Community Garden work together to provide fresh produce to neighbors in need. Grant funds will help repair and improve a raised donation bed in the community garden, making it more accessible to gardeners of all ages.
The grant will also support the purchase of new shopping baskets, tents, and banners for the market, as well as promotional ads leading up to the highly anticipated Grand Opening of the Firefly Farmstop this fall. This farm-to-market store will provide additional outlets for small farms nurtured by the Marigold Collective, which also partners with the University of Georgia and area hospitals to supply produce for health-based prescription incentive programs.
“This funding will help us strengthen our co-op booth, promote our farmers, and expand programs that directly benefit our neighbors,” said Sarah Hovater, Director of Marigold Farmers Market. “With the launch of the Firefly Farmstop, we’re excited to continue building a thriving, connected food community here in Winterville.”
A total of $10,000 in grant funding was awarded to five local farmers markets across AgGeorgia Farm Credit’s 79-county service area in 2025. Now in its fifth year, the initiative has provided $44,500 in funding to support the growth and sustainability of rural markets and the farmers they serve.
AgGeorgia Farm Credit plans to continue the Farmers Market Grant Program in 2026 and encourages all eligible markets, especially those who have applied previously but not yet been selected, to apply during the next cycle.