NATCHEZ — Locally produced food, handmade crafts and sweets will be available every Saturday through the end of August in Downtown Natchez as the 2018 summer market gets underway at 8 a.m. Saturday.

The market promises to have a wider range of available fresh produce and this year, organizers say and will again be located on Commerce Street between Main and State streets.

Eddie Burkes, director of the Downtown Natchez Farmers Market, said products that are available year-round in the summer market would be accompanied by an abundance of traditional summer vegetables, including beans, squash, zucchini, okra, greens, corn, hydroponic microgreens and lettuces and an increasing amount of fresh tomatoes as the summer progresses.

Fresh fruits, including peaches and nectarines also will be available with local dairy and meat products, including milk, cheese, butter, beef and pork.

People with a sweet tooth can be appeased with locally made jams, jellies, honey and baked goods.

Various food vendors with fully cooked foods are new to the market this year, Burkes said, and a food truck will be serving breakfast and lunch to hungry shoppers.

“We started the spring market (in April) with about three vendors and ended with 12,” he said. “It grew very nicely throughout the season as people became more aware. We expect that enthusiasm to carry over into the summer market.”

Burkes said last year’s summer market was a huge success and he anticipates that success to come again this year.

“People enjoyed the availability of fresh products from the farmers, the arts and crafts from the vendors and the commodity of the atmosphere,” he said.

Burkes said he thanks all of the market’s sponsors and community supporters.

“I’d like to thank our title sponsor Home Bank, United Mississippi Bank, the City of Natchez, The Natchez Democrat and Merit Health,” Burkes said. “Without them, this would not be possible.”

Burkes said the market benefits the community — both the farmers and the consumers — in multiple ways.

“It provides a market for local people and farmers to sell their products,” he said. “Consumers are able to buy fresh, local products and grow relationships between the consumers and the farmer. … I’ll see you at the market.”

 

Story by Sabrina Simms