North Jefferson County will soon be getting its own farmers market.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Gardendale is sponsoring the market, which will be located in the Kmart parking lot.

The market will be open every Thursday, 2-6 p.m., starting June 3.

“We’re here to help put money in small farmers’ pockets,” said Skip Sullivan with the Alabama Farmers Market Authority (AFMA).

The purpose of the market is twofold: To give local farmers a chance to sell their produce and to allow consumers to know who is growing their food.

“This is to promote the farmers,” said Rich Dender, who will serve as the Gardendale market manager.

Dender said 10 farmers have filled out applications to sell at the Gardendale market.

All of farmers will be certified by the AFMA, which means they are subject to site visits.

“These are true farmers,” Sullivan said. “Most of them welcome anybody to their farms.”

Sullivan said if he visits a farm and they do not grow watermelons, for example, but they are selling watermelons at the market, they will face penalties.

“That way they stay true to the game,” Sullivan said. “You know you’re not buying from a peddler who bought their produce themselves. You’re actually talking to the person who grew it. We’re trying to help the farmer make a dollar.”

One penalty for certified farmers who cheat is losing the capability of taking senior nutrition vouchers, which certified farmers can redeem for cash.

One thing the Gardendale market will not have this season is a point-of-sale terminal, which allows people to use credit cards, debit cards or EBT (food stamp) cards.

But Dender said he hopes to see a terminal in use in the future. He also hopes to see the market grow even larger.

Farmers markets are becoming more popular in the state. In 1999 there were 17 in Alabama, with 127 markets opening this year.

Dender said more farmers are welcome to sell their produce at the Gardendale market this season, but they must go through AFMA to become certified.

To learn more, call Dender at 427-5034.