You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
54<br />
Hogan said the Centerville and Warner Robins Farmers<br />
Markets take place on different days, but the Centerville and<br />
Perry Markets occur on the same day. “We’re such a large<br />
market that it’s easy to have a Northern/Southern market.”<br />
Before 2016, Centerville Mayor and Council did not have<br />
a Director of Economic Development and Hogan stated that<br />
they wanted to reach the city more through that department.<br />
“While this is Economic Development in its simplest form,<br />
just creating a sense of place and a sense of pride for this<br />
community has been one of the first steps in helping ensure<br />
that Center Park at Centerville and Town Center at Centerville<br />
is a successful project.”<br />
made our market so successful.”<br />
For any Farmers Market to blossom and thrive, having<br />
quality vendors play a key role. “We do pride ourselves<br />
in having a very diverse market,” said Hogan. “We’ve got<br />
Greenway Farms (Roberta, Georgia), which also goes to<br />
International City Farmers Market, and has everything from<br />
meat, eggs, and jellies. My staple, the people that have been<br />
with me in the beginning are Jail Creek Farms. They are<br />
fantastic. They have sausages, jellies, fruits, and vegetables.<br />
They have really helped us from the ground up. Gypsy Coffee<br />
Company has been with us since the beginning and she has<br />
coffees and spice blends. Shell Soaps is another one. She<br />
makes her own soaps, organic bug spray, deodorant, and<br />
lotions, and makes it all in-house. These vendors really have<br />
the dedication to see this market grow and flourish. It’s our<br />
cooperation and being receptive of their feedback that has<br />
At Home in Houston County<br />
Hogan says that Centerville does not charge their vendors<br />
to set up in the market but added that “we control the<br />
dynamic a little more.” Said Hogan, “So, if we have a soap<br />
vendor, then we try not to have another soap vendor there.<br />
We try to keep a real good balance.”<br />
One of the complaints they received in 2017 was that the<br />
market seemed like more of an “arts and crafts festival.” “We<br />
try to keep a good balance with having primarily food and<br />
we have a waiting list for our arts and crafts vendors,” said<br />
Hogan. “But truly what makes our market stand out is that<br />
we have meal cards that we give out. It’s basically like Blue<br />
Apron and Hello Fresh. We’ll create a shopping list and give<br />
you a recipe and you will have a shopping list of everything<br />
that’s offered in our market. There’s a grocery shopping list<br />
for the market and a grocery shopping list for the grocery<br />
store. We try to keep as many ingredients posted at our<br />
market as possible and then there are some you have to get<br />
at the grocery store. It has been really exciting to see that<br />
implemented.”<br />
There are five meal cards (vegetarian potato hash, tacos,<br />
Italian sausage kabobs, chili, and mixed green salad) with<br />
ingredients for each particular dish. Hogan says they plan on<br />
having those meal cards on display at the market in October<br />
and will carry over into 2019. Another element that the city<br />
is excited about adding is Goat Yoga, which takes place in<br />
52-55 Farmer's Market Story.indd 3 10/25/18 3:45 PM
Change language