Stephens Farmers Market to Open This Month With Some Changes

Stephens County is gearing up for this year’s annual farmer’s market, but it’s not going to be called that

The market takes place this year from April 21 through October 31 at 325 North Broad St in Toccoa.

County Administrator Phyllis Ayers over the past year, the County has made some changes to how the market is run and who can participate.

Ayers says one change expands the kinds of items that can be sold at the market to include home made as well as home grown.

`”It’s actually going to be called, ‘The Stephens County Market’ and not the farmers’ market because we adopted some market policies and operating rules,” Ayers said. “The vendors will be local farmers or gardeners, processors of agricultural commodities, artists or handcrafters who have produced the items for sale.”

Also new this year will mandatory vendor registration which includes a $25 annual vendor fee.

Ayers said she sat down with a group vendors who have consistently sold their home grown produce over the years to hammer out the new rules and regulations.

“We did have some complaints, and there wasn’t any written policies and operating procedures. So, this to get everybody on the same page. And we will be looking at it (market) every Saturday and Tuesday to make sure that all are in compliance,” Ayers explained.

According to Ayers, the inclusion of home-made items will mean a lot more kinds of items can be sold at the new Stephens County Market.

“It’s vegetables, fruits, baked goods, arts and crafts,” she said. “For example, hand-made soaps, hand-crafted furniture, pottery, jewelry, but they must have created them.”

A list of the new policies and procedures including the kinds of items that can be sold at the new Stephens County Market is available from the County Clerk’s office in the historic County Courthouse.

Vendor applications also be available there beginning Monday, April 9th.