Community Efforts Bring Festhalle Market Platz -- a New Farmer's Market -- to Cullman

February 01, 2008

Cullman County is the number one agriculture--producing county in the state. Poultry, cattle, sweet potatoes, strawberries, and fruits, as well as all vegetables native to the area are grown in the county.

In the city of Cullman, local farmers have traditionally sold their produce on a vacant lot with no advertising except for a small wooden sign and word of mouth. The farmers did not participate in the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program. Most participants were retired and sold their produce for additional income. Large production farmers took their goods to Birmingham or Atlanta.

The City of Cullman and several private entities realized a strong need for a larger and more adequate farmer’s market in the Cullman area. The Cullman Farmer’s Federation, the Cullman Poultry and Egg Association, the Cullman Farm-City Committee, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the North Alabama Horticulture Experiment Station and the Cullman County Sweet Potato Association are just a few organizations that endorsed and/or financially supported a new farmers market.

The Cullman City Council committed funds to build the market. The market was built in an historic part of Cullman that has been renovated by local merchants and is now one of the top shopping areas of the city. The structure for the market is unique in that it is an open timber frame structure that adds to the historical look of the area. The city maintains the building and a city-hired market manager organizes activities for the facility. The building is used for the farmers market during growing season and other activities throughout the year.

According to Elaine Cole, Extension coordinator for Cullman County, The Festhalle Market Platz held its grand opening in June and market sales were successful through the end of the fall growing season.

Cole says plans are in the works to hold several market days this spring for bedding plants. Regular market operation for vegetables and fruits will begin again in June.

For more news from Cullman County visit: http://www.aces.edu/Cullman

Posted by dreynold on February 1, 2008 04:38 PM
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