Does Tarpon Springs need a farmers market?

Yes, and for the past 2 year there was a really great farmers market, the Tarpon Sunday Market.  Face the facts, most local residences buy produce at their local supermarket or superstore without really thinking about where that produce came from. After all, fruits and vegetables are healthy for us. Right?!? I grew up shopping at the supermarket, and an apple is an apple, a strawberry is a strawberry, right? But I like the apples from the local orchard, the berries I picked in the woods. The corns on the cob, from the local farm stand…. We knew what time the farmer would be from the field. As a child wanted milk from a cow, it was better than store milk

Now do a little research….

Did you know that a lot of supermarket produce is picked before it is ripe? Of course you do, otherwise it would be over ripe by the time it is transported from different parts of the country, even the world, which can take up to 2 weeks Guess what? This affects its nutrient content, its freshness, and its taste. It also has a negative effect on the environment, and our local economies.

If you don't like the sound of that, let’s push for the return of your local farmer's market, the Tarpon Sunday Market.

Fresh, and locally grown!

If you stopped by the Tarpon Sunday Market, you found wonderful fresh produce and you could talk to the farmer. It was freshly picked, ripe, and recently picked, sometimes even that day. This past year Beasley Farm of Brooksville, Practicing "Sustainable Farming Methods",

Why does this matter? It is healthier!

This produce was allowed to reach its peak of ripeness before being picked. It is nutrient rich, and fresh, it is better for you than supermarket produce.

Meet the farmers!  Joann & Rolo are wonderful people.

So, right from “the horse’s mouth, you will know how it was grown, when it was picked, etc. You can feel confident about the food that you buy.

Better taste

You can be sure they have no salt, fat, preservatives or sugar added.  Since the food has reached the peak of ripeness, and was recently picked, this produce tastes how nature intended it to taste! The bottom line is and I can testify to that the produce I got, just tasted better!

Support local farmers

When produce is sold at supermarkets, farmers are often getting only about 10% of the profits, when they sell their produce at farm markets, they will get 100% of the profit from that produce. 

Put your money into your local economy

The Tarpon Sunday Market had lots of other stands offering fresh, homemade prepared foods, honey, jellies and jams, seafood, cheeses, sandwiches, smoothies and local craftsmen. And again were meeting the marker, the craftsmen, and the small business owner.  And listening to local musician, the Tarpon Sunday Market has been a great way to fun way to spend a part of you Sunday with your family, neighbors and benefit your community at the same time.

At the most basic level, when you buy local more money stays in the community.  A local farmer's market or community supported agriculture (CSA) program and found that twice the money stayed in the community when folks bought locally. "That means those purchases are twice as efficient in terms of keeping the local economy alive,  I’m talking about Tarpon Springs, and the surrounding area.

Let’s make the Tarpon Sunday Market WILL BE and IS opening this fall ….. Instead of the Tarpon Sunday Market was a great event,  I already miss, all for the people stopped by, the craftsmen, local growers, vendors.

Robie Waterworth

Aesthetic Candles

Candle Maker

Local Craftsmen, Patron, Supporter, Advocate