Every Tuesday during the summer, farmers from the surrounding the Auburn area flock to the Opelika Courthouse Square to showoff and sell their produce to market goers.
The market is open every Tuesday from 3 - 6 p.m. and will most likely continue to September.
At the market, customers find an array of different produce ranging from heirloom tomatoes grown in Selma to collard greens, bread and honey harvested in Tallapoosa County.
The market attracts many different kinds of farmers most of which farm with other family members.
Under the shade of a tent on the square sits Peggy Bryce, wife of a long-time Selma farmer, Morgan Bryce.
Over the constant chatter about produce and smells of good food, Peggy explained they have her experience at farmer's markets.
"We started 53 years ago and went to the original farmers market in Columbus [Georgia] to start with for years, and then they started having Opelika under the bridge and we moved over here," Peggy said.
With the exception of a few dry summers, Peggy said the business has been great, made evident when customers travel a few tents down to find another Bryce tent.
A third generation farmer, Morgan said he remembers farming around the age of 6, and has enjoyed it ever since.
"My granddad started farming in 1961," Morgan said. "Then after moving back to Auburn my Dad started farming in 1993. I started farming at 5 years old, helping sell and when I was about 6 or 7 (years old) I got my very first bean patch so I started picking beans and now I help pick everything and sell and also plant, water and hoe."
Morgan, who has been attending the farmer's market on and off for the past six years, said the turnout has not been all it could be do to the lack of advertisement but he remains hopeful on the future of the market..
"The turnout this year has been pretty good," Morgan said. "I just feel like the advertisement could have been better for this market, but I feel like word of mouth is really how the news of this market spreads. Its one of those things you would think after 5 o'clock you would have some of the people come by after work but between three and four is usually the peak hour for us selling wise."
Judy Freeman, mother of 11 children, said prior to starting a garden, she and her children would bake and have lemonade stands as a way for her children to make money from home.
Now, instead of a lemonade stand, Freeman and her three daughters Mary, Anna and Liana travel to the Opelika Courthouse Square to showoff and sell their homegrown crops from their own backyard.
"We started a big garden at home as a way for them to make money from home," Freeman said. "It's a good experience for the children because they learn responsibility. They have to be here on time and have to manage money."
Charles McCollum of Tallapoosa County has a large amount of honeybees he harvests honey from while also harvesting produce.
McCollum, who has been participating in the Opelika's Farmer's Market for sometime, said he could see the positive effects of the market in Opelika.
"I've been doing it since it was on the railroad down there and we moved up here, and we've done good here," McCollum said. "It's a good thing they got going here. There are people of all ages, including a lot of kids, and I just know its real good for the area."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
