Author Topic: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market  (Read 22338 times)

bill

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #15 on: March 09, 2012, 02:37:58 PM »
I can't believe the hypocrisy here, we're contemplating where Vegetables come from? Figuring that fuel costs are through the roof, do you think Dole or Del Monte would show up here and look to dump their offerings? These are locals or from our area, I did not ask if there were any folks from California or Arizona on my last trip, but then again, why does it matter? Are the peppers from California that are in Publix all that much better than what is at the Farmer's market? You can also buy shrimp from the side of the road, does that mean the shrimp are caught in Chile and shipped here? Get real!

Mtrain I'm only asking because I prefer to buy local stuff when I can, and you don't always know - nor can you always trust the vendors at the Jax Farmer's Market. I've asked and been told "yeah it's local" and then found stickers indicating Mexico as the point of origin for things like tomatos that should definitely be available from a local source.

I've gotten excellent local honey and fruit from the farmer's market (local to the region, if not the city). I've also gotten garlic from China, watermelons from Mexico, etc.

Not saying it's good or bad. I'm there every week so obviously it doesn't keep me from buying the stuff. I just wish there were more locally-grown produce items readily available. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

Try Lakeshore Produce. It does the best I have seen at getting at least Florida produce.

Fallen Buckeye

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #16 on: March 09, 2012, 05:20:50 PM »
I know Florida is a big farming state, but in my travels around North Florida most of the rural areas seem to be timber land or pasture. We would obviously have to have farmland to have local farmers, so I must not be paying close enough attention. Not to complain. I'm sure the produce there is great, but I was just curious if there is a farming industry in North Florida.

dougskiles

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #17 on: March 09, 2012, 06:37:28 PM »
Not much commercial farming in our area - and I think it may have a lot to do with our soil and weather.  Somewhere along the way, landowners realized they got more yield from trees and cows.

Garden guy

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #18 on: March 09, 2012, 07:20:28 PM »
Potatoes are  big in this area.

aaapolito

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #19 on: March 09, 2012, 08:36:18 PM »
This farmers market is a great asset to our city.  I know that the article mentions the occasional seafood vendor, and I think that's great, but wouldn't it be great to see the market expand to a similar selection like the Borough Market on the South Bank of London:  http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/page/traders; adding meat, fish, dairy and other artisan food vendor?

After reading this article and the one in the Jax Daily Record a few weeks ago, I have no doubt that the leadership at the Farmers Market would consider adding these features, if they believe that it would be a lucrative venture.

Non-RedNeck Westsider

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #20 on: March 09, 2012, 08:39:30 PM »
Potatoes are  big in this area.

Most of the potatoes in this area are underneath WGV and Murabella.
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Keith-N-Jax

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #21 on: March 09, 2012, 10:38:42 PM »
I love the farmers market as well, great place, great fruits and veggies.

urbanlibertarian

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #22 on: March 10, 2012, 09:31:17 AM »
I'd love to see the Farmer's Market move in the current convention center space and add a couple restaurants. You would have the benefit of having the Skyway bringing people from downtown or people could stop on their way to I-10 or I-95 after work.

When the Jacksonville Terminal is reinvented, you would also have travelers using the venue on a daily basis. The eateries would offer a destiantion as well as use the local produce and other offerings as well as drive more people to the Market.

Plus it would add an element of vibrancy and destination to LaVilla and the proposed Regional Transit Center. Having an all indoors market allows for expansion into meats, cheeses, seafood, etc that may require display cases. You could have permanent spaces as well as occasional set-ups for those who don't need a daily space.

Loading/unloading areas are already set up. There is plenty of parking onsite plus transit is available with more coming. It also would focus local people's attention back downtown.

Similar to the Cleveland West Side Market.
http://www.westsidemarket.org/about.html
 

I'd like to see the farmers market stay put because 1. I think the historic nature of the present site has value and 2. it's an important resource for the folks in that neighborhood.  Also the gritty flea market atmosphere is a plus IMO.
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thelakelander

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #23 on: March 10, 2012, 09:57:59 AM »
^I agree with this.  That area of town is a food desert and the farmer's market serves as the grocery store residents don't have.  Personally, I'd like to see the farmer's market become an anchor for "wholesale" or "market" district along Beaver Street.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-may-walkable-commercial-districts-west-beaver-street

Perhaps something similar to Detroit's Eastern Market  (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=370.0).  I'd like to see existing companies such as Beaver Street Fisheries, Condaxis Coffee, and White Wave Foods consider selling products to the general public.  I'd like to see other food related industries infill existing vacant warehouses for manufacturing/wholesale operations as well.  Here's an example of what's floating around in my head that I believe Beaver Street would be prefect for:



Quote
Eastern Market's Milano Bakery plant also features a dine-in bakery that sells goods that are manufactured in the same building (see below). This is an example of a mix of uses that would complement the development of Beaver Street, as to make it into a district that accommodates both industrial and wholesale businesses within a fairly walkable urban district.



Also, it seems like bringing in additional indoor vendors is a part of their current plan.  Those operations will be housed in the vacant grocery store building, they already own next door to the sheds.
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Debbie Thompson

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #24 on: March 10, 2012, 02:03:31 PM »
When I was young, my mom used to buy hindquarters from the Premier market, and whole pigs.  They would butcher and wrap it for you, cutting it up just the way you asked them to.  You could buy a whole cow if you had the freezer room for one.  Too bad that's not still available.

peestandingup

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #25 on: March 10, 2012, 02:52:49 PM »
Lake, I'm not sure about the others, but Condaxis Coffee does sell to the general public. I've done it many times & get raw coffee beans there by the pound. You just have to walk up the front office & ring the bell.

But I know what you're saying. Its not advertised & its not exactly apparent. I don't know why they (and the others) don't sell at the market across the street. Seems like it would be easy enough & lucrative for them.

urbanlibertarian

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #26 on: March 10, 2012, 04:12:25 PM »
Seems like Condaxis used to advertise on WOKV.  Maybe you called them and they sent a salesperson by to see you?
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peestandingup

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #27 on: March 10, 2012, 04:18:07 PM »
Seems like Condaxis used to advertise on WOKV.  Maybe you called them and they sent a salesperson by to see you?

Ha, nope. Just basically walked in & said "gimme some beans!". ;D

I don't think I'm a special case though. They have a couple burlap sacks right up front for people like me buying small batches that they just scoop out & bag. I don't see what they couldn't just take a few sacks across the street to sell at the market. I know people would buy it, especially since foot traffic is much higher over there.

thelakelander

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #28 on: March 10, 2012, 05:22:48 PM »
^I think it would greatly benefit the entire Beaver Street strip if that type of activity was widely promoted and embraced by additional businesses in the area.  Imagine if Condaxis had a similar set up to Bold Bean, where a coffeehouse with outdoor seating is integrated into operations.   Imagine if more food related companies were along that stretch and included wholesale retail operations as well?  It may be wishful thinking on my end, but I've seen areas like this become very popular destinations when a mix of industrial, wholesale, and retail operations are put together within a compact setting.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

peestandingup

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Re: Visiting The Jacksonville Farmer's Market
« Reply #29 on: March 10, 2012, 05:41:15 PM »
Yep, that would be pretty awesome Lake & I totally agree. In fact, when I started buying from them a couple years ago (and well before Bold Bean did it), I asked Mr Condaxis himself if he ever thought about making a coffee shop wing to his place (kinda like Bold City did with their taproom). I've been to other places like that that had a sorta warehouse feel to it where they both roast/serve & its really cool. I know Bold Bean does this now, but this has more of an old school down home truly industrial feel to it. Like I said, picture Bold City but just with coffee.

Anyways, he didn't think it was a great idea. But they recently retired & sold the business I believe, so thats probably another reason why they didn't want to get into it.