The Mississippi Main Street Blog

Farmers Markets Growing in Mississippi

The trend to buy local, organic and fresh produce is growing. Fortunately for Mississippi, our state has plenty to offer all over the state. Many of our Main Street towns have great Farmers Markets available to the public, such as Tupelo and Natchez. Others, like Hattiesburg, are in the process of developing a Farmers Market with the help of the MSU Office of Agricultural Communications. The slogan "Make Mine Mississippi" supports the trend of buying fresh produce locally.

Generally the prices at Farmers Markets are lower than at supermarkets. With the high cost of fuel, buying local also means saving money. But people like going to Farmers Markets for more than the fresh produce - they also like the atmosphere. Customers can chat with the farmers and each other; there is a camaraderie. People like knowing where their food came from and who grew it.  (Picture of Farmers Market sign in Turnrow bookstore in Greenwood).

Seven Reasons to do Farmers' Markets

With spring and warmer weather just around the corner, thoughts of fresh fruits and vegetables come to mind. Don't have a Farmers' Market in your town? Here are seven reasons why Farmers' Markets are the Cool Thing:

1.  Utilize foodways/local food systems
2.  Build rural incomes
3.  Access food (what people might call food deserts if fresh foods are not available locally)
4.  Promote wellness and health/fitness
5.  Revitalize commercial district (build patronage in your commercial district by providing more reasons for people to come)
6.  Build community (isn't it cool to have a farmers market in your neighborhood?)
7.  Make money (some markets are for-profit activities)

For those interested in learning how to set up a Farmers Market or better an existing one, sign up for a "Selling at Farmers Market" Workshop on March 8 in Jackson or March 15 in Starkville.

Farmers' Markets

Those of you who have Farmers Markets and keep your growers and producers on a database, please forward this link about the 2007 Deep South fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference in Mobile on December 5-6.  One of the ways to make your market more successful is to help your growers and producers be more successful.  Thanks, bob

 

http://www.deepsouthfruitveg.com/

Free Trees

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality notes that trees improve air and water quality, reduce flooding, reduce cooling and heating energy needs, increase property values and improve quality of life for people around them. Crime rates are lower in areas with many trees, and businesses that provide tree shaded parking in summer experience 10 percent more shoppers than businesses that don’t have shaded parking.

POPLARVILLE — Free native trees will be available for both public and private properties this winter through the Replant South Mississippi Program.

Replant South Mississippi is a partnership between the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain and the Sun Herald, with funding assistance from the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the Home Depot Foundation, and other sources. The purpose of the partnership is to restore the tree canopy greatly damaged by Hurricane Katrina, working together to enhance the public view and diversify the urban forest across the six southern counties of Mississippi.

http://www.picayuneitem.com/local/local_story_262125446.html