Pulling up their trucks in a wide circle on campus, vendors sell local produce and other wares to Auburn citizens at The Market at Ag Heritage Park, which is in its 10th year.
The vendors sell everything from strawberries to rabbit meat, and Gene Thornton, owner of Sneaky Crow Farm, said his produce was picked the same day it was sold.
“Our stuff is picked when it’s ready to be picked,” Gene said. “Stuff that’s picked in California is picked when it’s immature, not ripe, so obviously it hasn’t had time to develop the sugars, et cetera, the flavors.”
Gene and his wife, Rose, said they are sixth-generation farmers and farming has been in their family since 1805. Gene said there are many benefits to buying food at farmer’s markets.
“Its cheaper,” Gene said. “The quality is much superior to stuff that’s trucked in from California and foreign countries.”
Ben Harman, owner of Harman Family Farm started his farm nine years ago to help fund a handicapped van for his sister. He said he enjoys running a small farm.
“Just being local there, it’s just something local folks enjoy coming back to,” Harman said.
Harman grows tomatoes in greenhouses on his farm and raises chickens and rabbits.
“I feel like commercial tomatoes aren’t what they say they truly are, they say they’re ripened, but these are truly ripened,” Harman said. “They are home-grown, we put our hard work into it and you get a good quality product out of it ... plus it’s locally gown, you don’t have to travel far to get to it.”
Pia Kulakowski, graduate student in biology. said she anticipates the market every year.
She said she usually buys fruit, such as watermelon and strawberries.
“I’m usually here over the summer, and I love the farmer’s market, getting fresh produce, supporting local businesses,” Kulakowski said.
Kulakowski said she enjoys the atmosphere at the market.
“I like all the families, how Auburn’s more than just college students,” Kulakowski said.
Laura Herring, outreach administrator with the College of Agriculture, said the market is a community service, as well as a way to support local farmers.
“It’s a benefit for the farmers, but we do it for the community to have this as a resource to come buy their food from, learn about their products, that sort of thing,” Herring said.
Herring said there has been a good vendor and customer turnout so far this year.
She said there will be as many as 35 vendors this summer.
The University does not make money off the event, but it is a major outreach event for the College of Agriculture, according to Herring.
However, other University departments, such as the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences and poultry science sell their products at the market.
Herring said she expects the fisheries to come back with their shrimp, but poultry science will not be participating this year.
“I have customers ask every week about fisheries and poultry,” Herring said. “If they’re not here, I’m always asked by multiple customers, so I know that the community loves having them here and looks forward to having them here.”
The market is Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. until Aug. 27. For more information about the market, go to http://agriculture.auburn.edu/community-industry/the-market-at-agheritage-park/.
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