AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to award Thomson Farmers Market, Vickery Village Farmers Market, Downtown Perry Farmers Market and Union County Farmers Market each a $2,500 grant to help supplement their advertising and promotional objectives. “We support farmers. Our goal for developing this Farmers Market Grant program was to help promote those markets that support local farmers and the rural economy, while also providing access to fresh and healthy food and preserving farmland,” said AgGeorgia Chief Marketing Officer Corey Cottle.
Kim-Cora Kay, Director of the Thompson Farmers Market, stated, “The market is a small but mighty market and this grant will surely help with building community awareness of its existence. Our mission is to create a place for consumers to meet local farmers and crafters and form friendships that will extend past the markets season. We hope the market will revitalize the Thomson downtown area by highlighting the local culture of our community.” The market is located at the Train Depot in the heart of downtown Thomson.
The Vickery Village Farmers market ranges in size from 20 to 30 vendors and is set up in the courtyard of the business area of Vickery Village Forsyth, located in Cumming. The director of marketing expressed their excitement on receiving the grant. “After a short hiatus, we are excited to start our market this fall and we appreciate AgGeorgia Farm Credit for their support. Supporting our local farmers is a valuable part of the fabric of our culture – eat healthy, eat local. Farmers markets provide us with an opportunity to showcase the best produce available to our customers. We are proud to host our market at Vickery Village and look forward to seeing our customers and farmers soon!”
The Downtown Perry Farmers Market recently changed locations at the beginning of the year, moving to a lot just a couple of blocks away behind the old courthouse. The new location has more vendor spots available, and the grant money will be used to advertise and promote the market to bring in new customers and new farmers. “I am so excited that the Perry Farmers Market was selected as one of AgGeorgia’s grant recipients. These funds will help us to continue to promote our growing market located right in the heart of Historic Downtown Perry,” says Alicia Hartley, Downtown Manager of The City of Perry.
Located in Blairsville, the Union County Farmers Market has 84 covered stalls with about 70 percent consisting of agricultural products. Additionally, the market makes available a full-functioning community cannery and an off-leash dog park. “The Market was developed to give growers, big and small, a place to sell their goods,” said Farmers Market Director Kristy Peney. “It was then decided that artisans, beekeepers, bakers, potters and painters could sell their handmade goods. So when we boast ‘Home Grown and Handmade,’ you know that you are purchasing products that have been produced right here in the Union County area,” she said. “We are so honored to receive this grant to help boost our ability to get the word out about our incredible farmers market.”
This is the second year the cooperative has offered a Farmers Market Grant, and funds have been set aside to offer this grant again in 2023. For more information on how to apply for the grants, contact Jessica Bassett, Marketing Specialist with AgGeorgia Farm Credit, at jbassett@aggeorgia.com.
