Fultondale gets its own farmers’ market

Published 11:14 am Monday, June 25, 2012

Local farmers in Fultondale are setting up a market, showing that independent farming certainly hasn’t died out.

A ribbon cutting was held recently for the Fultondale Fresh Market, a market that sells farm-grown food by independent farmers. It is connected to the Farmers Market, which recently held a ribbon cutting in Gardendale.

The Fultondale Fresh Market offers farm-grown vegetables and plants through 9 vendors set up at the Ashley Furniture parking lot every Friday. Foods include peaches, blueberries, squashes, cucumbers, corn, potatoes, among many others. Dunn’s Daylilies sells a variety of lily plants.  

The market and its vendors are certified by the Farmer’s Market, and is headed by Kevin Frost and Tammy Gooch, director and assistant director respectively. 

“We have all fresh, all local produce,” said Frost. “You have to be a certified member to be in here. You have to raise everything you bring. It’s all home grown.”

The market will begin hold drawings every Friday in which each vendor donates items from their products. The one who wins the drawing can come away with free food or plants.

People that are interested in locally grown food may take a liking to the Fresh Market, where all the items are grown by experienced farmers in the north Jefferson area.

“Everybody [the market’s vendors] is local people selling fresh food to the area,” said Gooch, who encouraged locals to support independent farmers.

Fultondale Fresh Market is sponsored by the city. It is set up at the Ashley Furniture parking lot, which is located on Lowery Parkway. It is open from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays and will continue until October.