Residents of Jacksonville will soon have a local option to get their produce. Jacksonville’s Farmers Market will officially open Saturday, June 26 at the Jacksonville City Hall parking lot.  Sales will begin at 8 a.m. with local produce such as tomatoes, squash, beans, apples, eggs and blueberries.

“This was one of those suggestions that has been on our list for a time and something that we wanted to see in Jacksonville and it’s finally happening,” said Jacksonville’s Chair of the Quality of Life Committee, Susan Di Biase.

Di Biase said she is looking forward to buying produce at the market because of the flavors the fresh vegetables bring to her kitchen.

“So many of the vegetables that are breed for the supermarket are not breed for taste, they are breed to ship well and they just aren’t as good,” said Di Biase. “This is where you get that fresh, homegrown flavor. You know about [homegrown] tomatoes; You can’t call those things at the supermarket tomatoes.”

Di Biase said shopping at the Farmers Market is a great way to support farmers in the community and to encourage young people to go into farming. For her, getting produce at the market just makes sense.

“Gosh, you know we got a great climate, great soil here, why do we have to bring vegetables all the way here from California? That doesn’t make any sense at all, to ship them that distance and then by the time they get here they are already a week old and they lost have their vitamins.”

Rodney Petty is one of the local farmers that will be selling at the market.

“Expect to get quality, clean fruits and vegetables,” said Petty.

Petty said he is noticing a large nationwide initiative to buy locally. Petty said that with outbreaks and tainted produce making headlines, people want to know where their food is coming from and make sure it is clean. The Farmers Market lets shoppers do just that.

Petty, whose farm is located on Seven Spring’s Road, said he is so open to letting people see where their food is coming from, he welcomes anyone to come to his farm and he will show them around.

The Farmers Market will not only bring fresh vegetables to Jacksonville, it will also bring community.

“I think more important than anything it builds a sense of community,” said Petty. “Rather than having to go to Anniston or Gadsden, people can buy fresh, clean, quality produce right there in Jacksonville and that is good for everybody. That’s good for the farmers that produce it, the merchants and the local community.”

Already the market has brought people together. Di Biase said it was a city-wide effort to bring the market to fruition including volunteers from First Presbyterian Church and the Garden Club.

The market will be open on Saturday mornings until September.