Salt Air Farmers' Market

What we think makes our Salt Air Farmers' Market special is that it really is a true grass roots, community effort. Our local endeavor is supported by the Small Farms Program at FAMU headed by Doctor Jennifer Taylor. As a result of her guidance we draw farmers locally as well as regionally. We have a VERY dedicated team of local business people, as well as private citizens that make sure we take care of the farmers that travel down here to see us and represent our market and Gulf County with great hospitality. We made it through our first season and in our second year we can see the increase in traffic as our local residents are making it a habit to shop the market. Word has definitely gotten out to our guests that visit Gulf County as well. We sell locally harvested Tupelo Honey at every market along with fresh baked goods, coffee, plants, work by local artists, fresh gulf seafood and the large variety of fresh, seasonal produce each market delivers. One of the favorite attractions of our markets are the cooking demonstrations by local chefs who first shop the market and then prepare a dish using what fresh produce & seafood are available that week. As a result of the market, City Commons, the park where we gather on the first and third Saturdays of each month, has been re-designed and upgraded through city &county funding, community effort, grants and the team at our local Redevelopment Agency. It is now a beautiful and welcoming park, complete with a monument to the paper mill workers of Port St Joe. City Commons Park greets people as they drive along our local business district on Reid Avenue. The Salt Air Famers' Market Board of Directors is currently undertaking a project to build a pavilion which will become the centerpiece of City Commons Park, supported by the sales of memorial pavers dedicated to those paper mill workers who have long sustained our community. To encourage community involvement we offer free tables at every market for the use of local non-profit organizations as a fundraising platform. PTAs, Softball Teams, Churches, etc. are invited to join us at each market. We endeavor to continue to build our market through the support of local partner agencies such as the Port St Joe Redevelopment Agency, The Gulf County Chamber of Commerce, The Gulf County Tourist Development Council, Gulf Alliance for Local Arts, Community Gardeners and the continued guidance of Dr. Taylor and the FAMU Small Farms Program.