The vision is simple, and nurtured in tradition: a marketplace that is the hub of community activity, offering a bounty of nutritious foods along with a selection of unique local crafts. Avalon Park currently is issuing a call for vendors to participate in a weekly Farmers Market at the three-acre Town Park in downtown Avalon Park.
The market will operate from 7 a.m.- noon each Saturday from October through April. Stephanie Hodson, marketing coordinator, at Avalon Park, expects to register more than 20 small-business vendors of fresh fruit and vegetables, specialty foods, sauces, spices, syrups and honeys, and nursery foliage.
“The goal is to create a vibrant Farmers Market where our community can buy local, family-farmed foods grown in a way that sustains the land and our health,” Hodson said. “Our market is dedicated to providing community access to healthful nutritious foods, locally made crafts and educational opportunities to learn about suitable farming methods and food systems.”
Farm vendors will offer farm-fresh foods that include fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, dairy products, eggs, poultry, mushrooms, meats, fish and shellfish. Also included in this category are fresh flowers, nursery stock and plants. In addition, value-added farm foods will be available.
These items include honey, preserves, jams and jellies, cider, wine, cheese, syrups, salsas, smoked meats or fish, dried fruits, flours and salad dressing using ingredients grown and produced by the vendor.
There will also be a selection of processed foods such as juices, preserved foods, salad dressing, jams, pastries, pasta, granola, cookies, muffins, breads, pies and related take-home desserts. Rounding out the product mix will be a number of booths for local crafters to participate in their community market, offering crafted and dried farm flower products.
And finally, there will be a booth reserved each market day, free of charge, for market sponsors and organizations that support the East Orlando community. Vendors who wish to participate in any of these product categories are asked to call Hodson at 407-658-6565. There is a $15 booth fee per market for a 10 x 10 space.
The Avalon Park Farmers Market is managed and organized by the Avalon Park Merchant Association.
