Longtime Market Builds New Audience After Move To New Site
ALACHUA – Less than a year after a relocation that raised questions about its future, the Alachua County Farmers Market has recorded more than 100,000 visits at its new San Felasco Tech City home, according to market organizers.
The attendance milestone offers the clearest indication yet that the more than 50-year-old market has retained longtime customers while attracting a new generation of shoppers.
The market held its first Saturday session at 13900 Tech City Circle on Jan. 3 after leaving the U.S. 441 property where it had operated since 1991. Some vendors and customers initially questioned whether the market could preserve its identity and customer base away from the familiar roadside location.
Since then, colorful vendor tents, a covered shopping area and brick walkways have become part of the market’s new setting. Vendors sell seasonal produce, meats, eggs, dairy products, seafood, plants, honey, baked goods and other items, all locally grown or produced.
Amanda Payton, manager of the Alachua County Farmers Market, said the attendance reflects the response from customers and vendors who made the move with the market.
“Reaching more than 100,000 visitors is an incredible milestone for our market and, most importantly, for our vendors,” Payton said. “We wanted to protect what has made this market special for more than 50 years while creating new opportunities for our farmers. Seeing thousands of people come together week after week has exceeded our expectations.”
Founded in 1972, the Alachua County Farmers Market is described as the area’s oldest continuously operating farmers market. Its central mission remains connecting Florida farmers and agricultural producers directly with consumers.
The new site has allowed the market to broaden its role beyond weekly shopping. Earlier in the year, vendors offered free culinary tastings, product raffles and organic gardening workshops intended to introduce residents to the location and encourage repeat visits.
The gardening programs addressed growing vegetables, herbs, ornamental plants and butterfly gardens in small spaces, as well as composting, container gardening and organic pest control.
Longtime vendor Paul Miller said the new site has brought a noticeable mix of established customers and newcomers.
“I’ve been part of this market for a long time, and I absolutely love what has happened at San Felasco Tech City,” Miller said. “We’re seeing longtime customers, but we’re also seeing young families and people discovering the market for the first time. We’re preserving a 50-year tradition while introducing it to the next generation.”
Abel Garcia, a market board member and vendor of locally produced beef products, said the attendance milestone also represents direct support for area producers.
“Farmers understand better than most people that you can’t control every change that comes your way, but you can decide what you do with it,” Garcia said. “Surpassing 100,000 visitors tells us that the community believes in what we’re doing. More importantly, those visitors are supporting local farms and local families every Saturday.”
The market’s relocation placed it within an 82-acre mixed-use development built around business, technology, recreation and renewable energy. San Felasco Tech City is adjacent to the approximately 7,200-acre San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park.
Mitch Glaeser, co-developer of San Felasco Tech City, said the market has become an important part of the development’s emphasis on sustainable living and community connections.
“More than 100,000 visits in less than a year isn’t simply an attendance number,” Glaeser said. “It represents families, farmers, small businesses and neighbors coming together every Saturday. Farm-to-table and sustainability are fundamental parts of the vision for San Felasco Tech City, and the Farmers Market has become one of the most visible expressions of that vision.”
The new location offers nearby parking and is accessible to people with disabilities. The market remains pet-friendly and continues to operate rain or shine.
“Innovation isn’t only about technology,” Glaeser said. “It’s about finding better ways for people to live, work and connect. Supporting local agriculture, knowing where your food comes from, creating opportunities for small businesses and bringing people together in a sustainable environment are all part of building a stronger community.”
The Alachua County Farmers Market is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday at 13900 Tech City Circle in Alachua. Additional information is available at 441market.com.
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