Snellville Farmers' Market wraps up successful first season

Snellville Farmers' Market last day is tomorrow

Snellville Farmers' Market - Saturday, October 30th is the last day for the farmers' market this year. The Snellville Farmers' Market takes place on Saturday mornings from May through October, from 8 a.m. to noon on the green space adjacent to Snellville City Hall. Free parking at Snellville City Hall, located on Oak Road.

Snellville, quoted

"The peaches were beautiful! We had a nice breeze today which made the market even more enjoyable! Tomatoes are plentiful as are the squash and the corn. We had some new vendors today which made us proud to be able to expand our services for the citizens and visitors to Snellville."

~Snellville Farmers' Market on Facebook (yesterday).

The Snellville Farmers' Market is held each Saturday through October, from 8 a.m. to noon. The Farmers' Market is held on the green space adjacent to Snellville City Hall at US78/Main Street and Oak Road. Driving down US78, just look for the festival tents and smiling faces!

Snellville "Snail" Christmas Ornament Sale at Farmers' Market

Two officers and Mayor Oberholtzer prepare to load the Snellville Christmas Ornaments bearing Snaily's likeness onto armored vehicle.

The ornament would be sold at 10 am. This is the line at 9:21 am. The line started forming at 9 am.

PS That's my daughter's ear on the left. I can always count on one of my kids to walk into a shot. :) She has a pretty ear, and I was too lazy to crop the photo.

Snail Ornament will be sold Saturday

This snail ornament made national and international news

The now-internationally known Snellville Christmas Ornament (that's right, the one with the Snail on it, how'dya guess?) will arrive at the Snellville Farmers' Market via armored vehicle from a secret location.

Snellville has issued an annual Christmas ornament for decades. This years' ornament has a snail on it. Not just any snail, but a snail decked out festively in a Santa hat and scarf thrown jauntily about his wee neck. The snail is set against an elegant background of snowflakes.

The ornament is being considered a memorial to the armored slug called Snelly by some. I dubbed him Snaily. Now that he's arriving by armored vehicle, maybe he should be renamed Sir Snaily. I hope he won't be getting uppity after all this attention. 

The Farmers' Market starts at 8 am on Saturday, July 31st. Snaily the memorial ornament will arrive at 10 am. The Farmers' Market will be held until noon.

The ornaments were donated by the City of Snellville to Snellville Tourism and Trade Association (S.T.A.T.), and the proceeds from the sales of the ornaments will fund the Christmas Tree lighting event in December.

So, if you've been wanting to get your hands on the 2010 Snellville Christmas Ornament, be sure to be there early. This is one time that a snail is expected to move fast.

INFO ON PURCHASING A SNELLVILLE SNAIL ORNAMENT
 
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Snellville Snail Tales

Gwinnett Daily Post reports on Snellville Farmers' Market

The new crop: Farmers markets not just for fruits, veggies anymore
Gwinnettdailypost.com
SNELLVILLE — The name “farmers market” is perhaps becoming a misnomer for the annual outdoor summer markets where vendors peddle their wares. ...

Snellville Farmers Market 8 am - noon, Saturday, June 19th

If you haven't been to the Snellville Farmers' Market yet (it has been open 2 Saturdays now) - there's everything from the vegetables you expect to some more unexpected things, like honey, fudge, artisan breads, and handcrafted wood cutting boards.

At 9 am, there will be the Grand Opening/ribbon cutting ceremony of the farmers' market and there will be live music.

I'll be at the Snellville Farmers' Market painting tomorrow (Saturday, June 19th) from 8 am until noon. I'll have a silent auction form, and the high bid at noon gets the artwork and 100% of the proceeds of the art go to the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry (our local food bank). My tent is in the middle of everything. Look for a painting and you'll find me :) Here's how the painting looks so far: http://tinyurl.com/2d6qy4x

The Farmers' Market goes through October, so if you know anyone with a food-related product, you should tell them about it. Conservative estimate was that at least 2,000 people are checking out the market each Saturday. To get more info on the farmers' market, go to http://snellvillefarmersmarket.com

Giveaways and music at Snellville Farmers' Market Grand Opening

Saturday, June 19th is the official, ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the Snellville Farmers' Market.  Snellville Farmers' Market t-shirts will be given away to the first 300 customers. A ribbon cutting with the Greater Eastside Chamber of Commerce at 9 a.m. and music by Williamsburg Bridge. 

The Snellville Farmers' Market takes place from 8 am until noon on the town green (green lawn area) in front of Snellville City Hall on Main Street/US78 in Snellville. You can't miss it. Look for all the festival tents. Parking available at City Hall. The Farmers' Market continues on each Saturday morning through October.


For more information about the Snellville Farmers' Market, visit www.SnellvilleFarmersMarket.com

Snellville Tourism & Trade Association (STAT)

Well, I learn something new every day. I didn't realize (or maybe I just forgot!) that Snellville had a Tourism and Trade Association, called STAT for short. I would have abbreviated that STTA myself, but at least STAT can be pronounced.

The first project of the Snellville Tourism and Trade Association is the Snellville Farmers' Market. The Trade Associaton will be funded from the City of Snellville's hotel/motel tax.

As of this writing, I could not locate a website for the Snellville Tourism & Trade Association, but when I get it, I will share it.

Snellville Farmers' Market parking

On Saturday, June 5th, Oak Road will be closed between Hwy 78 and City Hall from 6:45 - 7:45 AM for Snellville Farmers' Market vendor set-up. Farmers' Market customers are asked to please not arrive before 7:45 AM.

Parking is available at City Hall. Snellville Methodist Church has graciously agreed to overflow parking in their lot. Please do not park in the Bank of America lot or other lots on Oak Road. The Snellville Farmers' Market is committed to being a good neighbor to these businesses.

The Snellville Farmers' Market will be open to the public each Saturday from 8 am until noon, beginning with June 5th and continuing through October. The Farmers' Market will be held in the large greenspace area between Snellville City Hall and Hwy 78/Main Street in Snellville. Free admission.

There's still time to become Snellville farmers' market vendor

Snellville still has spots open for summer farmer's market
Gwinnettdailypost.com
SNELLVILLE — Southern Gwinnettians will get a new opportunity to buy fresh-off-the-farm produce this summer. Beginning June 5, Snellville will host a ...

Farmers’ market coming to Snellville

A Saturday morning farmers’ market is coming to Snellville, beginning in June.

Throughout the cold weeks of winter, a group of 10 dedicated volunteers, including two Snellville City Council members, has been meeting regularly to focus on spring and fresh-from-the-farm produce.

The group has been making plans for a Saturday morning farmers’ market, scheduled to begin June 5, 2010. The Snellville Farmer's Market will be held weekly from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon on the grounds at Snellville City Hall 2342 Oak Road.

“We have a wonderful group of very enthusiastic volunteers,” said Barbara Bender, a member of the council who serves as mayor pro-tem and has acted as the committee’s liaison with other city officials and city staff members.

“They have been doing a lot of research, talking to people who run the farmers’ markets in other cities, and writing very comprehensive policies to ensure a great market.”

Farmers’ markets are one of the most exciting trends in America’s food-delivery system.

The markets are important because they provide local farmers with an outlet to sell food they raise directly to customers. Farmers Markets also allow consumers to buy fresh food, usually harvested within the last 24 hours.

“Snellville needs this type of fun-for-all, family-centered event on a regular basis,” said Tom Witts, a council member who has been working closely with the committee and making calls to potential vendors.

In the recruitment calls he has made, Witts has emphasized the outstanding location the Snellville market will have. “We will be right on Highway 78 where we will have great visibility,” Witts said, noting that an average of 40,000 vehicles pass City Hall each day.

The market will focus on fresh produce, but the committee is also courting vendors who sell meats, eggs, cheese, artisan breads and other baked goods, jams and jellies, honey and fresh flowers.

A limited number of craft vendors will be approved to participate in the market, with a focus on crafts handcrafted from natural ingredients, such as soaps and lotions.

Booths are priced at $10 per week or $175 for the 22-week season, which will go through October.

Local non-profit civic, church and school groups may be approved to participate at no cost, but will not be allowed to sell any products that compete with the paying vendors.

“We still have some available spaces for vendors,” said Witts. “I hope they will seriously consider our market because our goal is to make this a premier market. The market will be the go-to destination market.”

(Note from blogger: A "destination" market means that it will bring people into Snellville specifically FOR the farmer's market...and that will bring income to our local economy, because when people come here for the farmer's market, they'll also shop our stores, eat lunch at Snellville restaurants, etc)

Interested vendors may call Marilyn Swinney at 770-736-8332 or Marcy Pharris at 770-978-1093 for an application to participate in the market. You can also become a fan of the Snellville Farmer's Market on Facebook!

Barbara Bender: BBender@snellville.org
Tom Witts: TWitts@snellville.org
Snellville City Hall: 770-985-3500

Related links:
Snellville to begin farmers' market in June
SnellvilleEats

Snellville Farmers' Market
Squidoo page