Athens Farmers Market

This year-2012- is the 40th anniversary of the Athens Farmers Market! If you have not yet been able to shop at the market I urge you all to go and browse the wonderful local, fresh and high quality products available to you! 

The market is located at 1000 East State St. (in the parking lot). It is open 10-1 on Saturdays (year round) and Wednesdays (April-December). Click here for more information on the farmers market! Although I have not yet experienced winter in Athens, I assume that the market moves indoors during the cold winter months. 

I wanted to get to know some of the vendors a bit better- I will be posting interviews with them about their products, businesses and thoughts on sustainability here, but don't just take my word for it- get out to the Market on State!  

Meet Charlene Burnett! Owner of Pie in the Sky Baked Goods! 

Charlene sells homemade baked goods, cakes, pies, cookies and sweet bread to name a few! She sells strictly at the farmers market- so be sure to visit the market to sample her delicious homemade breads! She has been selling for three years at the farmers market. 

Charlene Burnett sells baked goods at the farmers market!
photo by: Markie Miller 

Charlene's products could not be more local! She travels less than 10 miles to get to the farmers market. Her business started when she came to the Athens area and needed a job. She loved to bake, looked up the rules and regulations and "it all fell together". She is a great of example of sustainable entrepreneurship! 

I asked her what she wanted the people of Athens to know about her product. She simply said, "if you miss grandmas baking- come see me!" She said with a smile and much honesty. I loved her response- as a student who is away from home I can understand the comfort that can come from homemade baked goods. 

Farmers markets are a great way to "act local" (recall the motto think global, act local). I asked Charlene to to reflect on this statement. She responded: "the best impact you can make is to act locally. Maybe you can't save the world, but you can do what you can where you're at!" That is exactly what she is doing! 

What about sustainability? To Charlene, sustainability means "leaving as small a footprint as possible". This was a nice take on sustainability from a business standpoint. Her answer had nothing to do with obtaining the largest yield or making the biggest profit. She simply aims to be low key in her endeavor! 

Finally, I asked Charlene what kind of future she saw for farmers markets. She thought it looked promising. Farmers markets deliver good quality products right at home with less driving. It is nice to see so many people supporting the farmers market every week, but it needs your business! 

Visit the farmers market! Buy local! Give a face and a name to the products you buy and know your money is going directly to the source. Starting November 10 there will be a shuttle for students to and from the farmers market. More information can be found here! The bus will meet at the top of Baker Center and go to and from the market beginning at 10:30 am! 

I hope to see you there!