EAV Farmers Market Expanding Community Reach

By Lewis Cartee
The Neighborhood Fund of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has awarded a grant to the East Atlanta Village (EAV) Farmers Market. For 20 years, the Neighborhood Fund has supported grassroots, community-based projects throughout the region. The “sign toppers” in East Atlanta are one example of the Fund’s investment in East Atlanta.
This month, the EAV Farmers Market received $6,500 to increase community access to the market and improve the new market location at 561 Flat Shoals Avenue. “With this funding, we will be turning a formerly empty lot into a learning garden and home for our farmers market for many years to come” said the Market Manager, Katie Hayes. “We are thrilled for this opportunity to expand our reach in the community and grateful for the support of the East Atlanta Community Association (EACA)”.
The partnership between the EAV Farmers Market and EACA is a growing and transformative development. In 2010, EACA was awarded a two-year, $50,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Community Health to support the Farmers Market’s extension of its services. Through this partnership, the farmers market has been teaching cooking classes at Branan Towers, McNair High School, Burgess-Peterson Academy and the East Atlanta Kids Club as well as supporting the enhancement of community gardens at all four locations.
Austin Dickson, president of EACA, is glad to see the organization working so closely with the market: “It’s critical that the community association support the work of the farmers’ market as it grows and expands into a thriving neighborhood institution. The market is a tremendous asset to East Atlanta; it provides a space for neighbors to gather and interact, offers small businesses and farmers an opportunity to build relationships with neighborhood customers and increases access to fresh, local food and produce.”
The East Atlanta Village Market is located at 561 Flat Shoals Avenue and operates every Thursday from 4:00pm to 8:00pm beginning May 5 and running through November, prior to Thanksgiving. Vendors and farmers from all over Atlanta and Georgia offer their produce, meat, cheese, and other delicacies. This season there is also free chef demonstrations, gardening classes, and yoga classes in the learning garden. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.farmeav.com.
In other news, the EAV Farmers Market has also partnered with the Grant Park Conservancy, in opening a sister market in Grant Park. This new farmers market opens May 15 at the Milledge Fountain (at the corner of Cherokee Avenue and Milledge Avenue). The Grant Park Farmers Market operates Sundays from 10:00am to 2:00pm, May 15 to November 20. This market also features local farmers and artisans, chef demonstrations, yoga, and wellness classes. For more information, visit: www.grantparkmarket.org.