By Gerri Miller

Staff Writer

It was the perfect Spring day Tuesday for the opening of the Millbrook Farmers Market and business was brisk.

Ann Harper, Economic Developer for the City of Millbrook, said that more than 250 people visited the market and that she heard many positive comments about the experience.

The Market started its opening day with 12 vendors properly socially distanced six feet apart. The Market took precautionary measures to help ensure that customers and vendors remained safe. A larger area of the Village Green was used to ensure that vendors and customers had more room to spread out. It was also held in an area with more shade, making it cooler for the vendors and customers.

There were also handwashing stations and Best Practices were posted for customers and vendors.

Dawn Davis, who owns Lettie’s Cookies, said she has been part of the Market for six years. She sells a variety of delicious cakes, cookies, and candies.

“I like the fact that you can come out here and get fresh, local and home baked products,” she said.

Evans Farms sold a variety of potatoes, onions, peaches, zucchini and squash this week. “Next week I should have cucumbers,” said owner Keith Evans. “A few weeks from now the tomatoes should be ready.”

Evans’ sister farm, Penton Farms, also brought fresh vegetables and baskets of the super sweet strawberries it is known for producing.

Other vendors and their products ranged from Henry Tucker, who sold boiled and roasted peanuts, and Charlie Washington, who sold greenhouse plants, to Brock Apiarie by Joel and Melba Brocks. The Brocks sell honey from their honeybee farm.

Stacey Davis and her son Malik brought a variety of breads and jams, including a strawberry jalapeno jam they say is delicious. Nineteen-year-old Malik has been helping his mom out at the markets since he was seven years old.

Bill Anderson of Anderson Farms brought traditional “fair fare” to the market, selling a variety of slushees, funnel cakes, nachos, hot dogs and more.

Tif Smith of Tif’s Piggy Pickles & More, was there selling a variety of pickles, salsa, and even hand-made face masks for virus protection. She said business was good.

“I think everybody’s just excited about getting outside again,” she said.

Harper said there should be a few more vendors participating in the Market in upcoming weeks. She said the Market will be held every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Although some people have asked that the market hours be changed to accommodate working families, Harper said that changing to a late afternoon market or a Saturday market would hurt the vendors.

“Many of the vendors participate in larger Saturday markets,” Harper said. “Another reason we don’t change the times is because thunderstorms tend to pop up in the afternoons this time of year. We tried it one year and some of the storms were so severe that they blew the tents down.”

Market Manager Chuck Burns said farmers were having to throw out produce because of the storms. Intense heat also wasn’t good for some of the items sold. “It also works out better for our older customers to have it in the mornings,” he said.

Harper said one new thing this year is that the City of Millbrook has joined a focused public relations and advertising program of the State Farmers Market called “Sweet Grown Alabama.” She is encouraging vendors to join because it connects Alabama farmers to restaurants, grocers, consumers, and others with the whole idea of bringing fresh produce directly to the consumer.

“We are encouraging our vendors to join,” she said. For more information, visit SweetGrownAlabama.org