Revisioning The High Springs Farmers Market

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs sponsored a workshop on Thursday, May 18, to ask citizens, farmers and vendors for input on the High Springs Farmers Market, 23517 N.W. 185^th Road. Approximately 35 people attended the meeting to share their ideas on ways in which the farmers market might best address the needs of the community.

Sharon Yeago, the originator of the market, was on hand along with the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Manager Amy Bohannon and City Manager Ashley Stathatos.

Yeago addressed ways in which farmers markets work throughout Florida and asked for input from attendees, which were then listed on various large paper sheets displayed around the room for review. Ultimately, workshop attendees identified some items they believed were important to the City and the market.

Items identified included a restriction to limit only produce grown by local farmers and gift items that were handmade exclusively by local craftspeople. Participants also requested additional advertising and signage and recruitment of more local farmers to participate in the market.

Yeago said a survey would be designed to obtain more information from the public. Surveys will be online and also in print and will be available during June and July. “We are hoping our citizens will tell us exactly what they want in their farmers market so we can make sure that the market is meeting their needs,” said Yeago. “We will be seeking out community groups, churches and organizations to let them know what we are doing and to get their input.”

A variety of ideas were suggested and every aspect of the market will be reviewed to standardize rules, requirements, hours of operation, and ways in which the Farmers Market pavilion can be used in addition to the market. Some suggestions have included featuring other types of markets, a venue for musical entertainment and a Christmas market to name a few.

Part of the challenge is finding people who used to go to market and don’t any longer. Also, locating farmers who used to be part of the market but are no longer involved would be helpful.

Yeago pointed out that the previous week there were 19 vendors at the market, but only eight were farmers. In 2005, the market was generating $250,000 in sales for its vendors, which at that time, was a growers’ only market. “One of the things we hope to determine is the amount being generated currently,” Yeago said.

The City plans to hold another public meeting in August after they have received the survey responses from the community. The results of the research, including the workshops and surveys, will then be presented to the City Commission in September.

“Any changes that the City decides to make to the Farmers Market will take effect in October, at the beginning of the next fiscal year,” Yeago said.

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