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The new Franklin Farmers’ Market is located at 210 S. Main St.
By Bobbie Whitehead
The new Franklin Farmers’ Market at 210 S.Main St. will open Saturday, May 16 at 8 a.m. with grand opening ceremonies beginning at 9 a.m.
City officials, members of the Camp Foundation, which provided grant money to help construct the facility, and various civic groups will be on hand for the ceremony on the market’s opening day, said Dan Howe, Downtown Franklin Association executive director.
“To me, I think the market is a great thing for the downtown, for the citizens and for the vendors,” Howe said. “A lot of what keeps us alive is the small businesses. We hope this will help some of the growers who do this as a living, those who do it part time to supplement their income and those who do it as a hobby.”
The new Franklin Farmers’ Market at 210 S.Main St. will open Saturday, May 16 at 8 a.m. with grand opening ceremonies beginning at 9 a.m.
City officials, members of the Camp Foundation, which provided grant money to help construct the facility, and various civic groups will be on hand for the ceremony on the market’s opening day, said Dan Howe, Downtown Franklin Association executive director.
“To me, I think the market is a great thing for the downtown, for the citizens and for the vendors,” Howe said. “A lot of what keeps us alive is the small businesses. We hope this will help some of the growers who do this as a living, those who do it part time to supplement their income and those who do it as a hobby.”
The market will include produce and craft vendors as well as vendors who are state-certified to sell baked goods they make.
In addition, customers will see seafood and livestock vendors on the market property, but Howe said these vendors will be outside of the shelter.
“Obviously, there may not be a lot of produce grown in Virginia available yet, so some people may be selling things grown elsewhere, but people will have to label their produce as such,” Howe said.
Earlier this year, the DFA began looking for members of a market advisory board, which reports to the DFA, as well as a market manager. Since then, Howe said they have a volunteer market manager, Kathy Brown, and the nine advisory board members include both city officials and vendors.
“We luckily found a market manager who would volunteer,” Howe said. “The establishment of the market has been a real good team effort between the city and the DFA.”
The market, costing just over $80,000 to construct and about 37 feet by 67 feet, has the endorsement of the Virginia Grown program, Howe said, which allows the market to use the Virginia Grown logo.
The grand opening of the Franklin Farmers' Market will be broadcast through radio station, WLQM 101.7 FM and 1250 AM, Howe said.
The completion of the market will take two phases, the first having been completed. In the second phase of the market project, the city will put in a paved parking lot and green space, and for now, Franklin seeks additional grant money to complete the second phase, Howe said.
Resembling some of the large retail markets, the Franklin market has 14 bays with a design that allows the vendors to back their vehicles up to the bay to unload. The concrete walkway in the center of the market allows customers to walk through to view available products for sale. The DFA will provide the tables for the vendors to set up under the shelter.
“I think the market is great, and I think this is more excitement for the downtown,” Howe said. “We sent out over 50 invitation letters to people not only in Franklin and Southampton County but outside the city and county.”
The prime season will begin on the third Saturday in May and end on the last Saturday in October, and the two prime days and times each week during the prime season only will be Thursday 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. But the market will be open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., he said.
Anyone wanting to sell at the market is required to register and purchase a farmers market license for $10 from the city of Franklin.
“The exciting thing this year is we’ve waived the vendor fee at least for the initial opening,” Howe said.
The market advisory board has not set the vendor fee yet, Howe said. “We’re hoping not to have to charge any fees until the January 2010 season,” Howe said.
When fees are set, they will cover the market year from January to December, he said. Kathy Brown, market manager, said in order to be a core vendor, the vendor must sell 80 percent of the time during the prime days, either Thursday or Saturday or both days.
“Those are the days that we ask them to commit to, one or both of those days, so that we can ensure there are plenty of vendors there on site,” Brown said.
Howe said they’re also encouraging vendors to partner with another vendor if they’re small enough not to be a full-season vendor.
All through the year, various programs will be held at the market such as bringing in featured guests like master gardeners and other experts. The DFA also plans to update its web site www.downtownfranklinva.org to include a Franklin Farmers' Market page and other links.
In addition, customers will see seafood and livestock vendors on the market property, but Howe said these vendors will be outside of the shelter.
“Obviously, there may not be a lot of produce grown in Virginia available yet, so some people may be selling things grown elsewhere, but people will have to label their produce as such,” Howe said.
Earlier this year, the DFA began looking for members of a market advisory board, which reports to the DFA, as well as a market manager. Since then, Howe said they have a volunteer market manager, Kathy Brown, and the nine advisory board members include both city officials and vendors.
“We luckily found a market manager who would volunteer,” Howe said. “The establishment of the market has been a real good team effort between the city and the DFA.”
The market, costing just over $80,000 to construct and about 37 feet by 67 feet, has the endorsement of the Virginia Grown program, Howe said, which allows the market to use the Virginia Grown logo.
The grand opening of the Franklin Farmers' Market will be broadcast through radio station, WLQM 101.7 FM and 1250 AM, Howe said.
The completion of the market will take two phases, the first having been completed. In the second phase of the market project, the city will put in a paved parking lot and green space, and for now, Franklin seeks additional grant money to complete the second phase, Howe said.
Resembling some of the large retail markets, the Franklin market has 14 bays with a design that allows the vendors to back their vehicles up to the bay to unload. The concrete walkway in the center of the market allows customers to walk through to view available products for sale. The DFA will provide the tables for the vendors to set up under the shelter.
“I think the market is great, and I think this is more excitement for the downtown,” Howe said. “We sent out over 50 invitation letters to people not only in Franklin and Southampton County but outside the city and county.”
The prime season will begin on the third Saturday in May and end on the last Saturday in October, and the two prime days and times each week during the prime season only will be Thursday 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. But the market will be open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., he said.
Anyone wanting to sell at the market is required to register and purchase a farmers market license for $10 from the city of Franklin.
“The exciting thing this year is we’ve waived the vendor fee at least for the initial opening,” Howe said.
The market advisory board has not set the vendor fee yet, Howe said. “We’re hoping not to have to charge any fees until the January 2010 season,” Howe said.
When fees are set, they will cover the market year from January to December, he said. Kathy Brown, market manager, said in order to be a core vendor, the vendor must sell 80 percent of the time during the prime days, either Thursday or Saturday or both days.
“Those are the days that we ask them to commit to, one or both of those days, so that we can ensure there are plenty of vendors there on site,” Brown said.
Howe said they’re also encouraging vendors to partner with another vendor if they’re small enough not to be a full-season vendor.
All through the year, various programs will be held at the market such as bringing in featured guests like master gardeners and other experts. The DFA also plans to update its web site www.downtownfranklinva.org to include a Franklin Farmers' Market page and other links.
Franklin’s farm market grand opening scheduled May 16
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