A Season of Meet Me at the Market Georgia Grown Partnership: Year in Review and What's Ahead

by Sagdrina Brown Jalal, Community Food Systems Strategist

One of the things we've appreciated during this season of Meet Me at the Market has been the opportunity to deepen our relationship with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Matthew Kulinski has taken the time to see the work up close, visiting both Freedom Farmers Market and Peachtree Road Farmers Market and getting to know more about what is happening within these market communities. He has also met with us regularly to listen and learn more about the work of market leaders, food producers, and vendors across the state and to explore how the Georgia Department of Agriculture can further support the work already happening in Georgia's farmers markets.

Our first full season of the Meet Me at the Market partnership with Georgia Grown gave us plenty of opportunities to put that belief into practice. Through 10 pop ups at markets across Georgia, we encouraged shoppers to experience their local markets differently while helping market leaders and vendors strengthen their connection to Georgia Grown. We watched communities show up, discover new producers, linger a little longer, and experience the market as a place to belong as much as a place to buy.

We also made it easier for people to find thos e places. The Georgia Grown Farmers Market Map, created by the Meet Me at the Market team  is now live and helping consumers discover farmers markets throughout the state. In many ways, the map extends the spirit of Meet Me at the Market beyond any single event or community by connecting more people with the markets in their own backyards and across Georgia.

As we look toward Year Two, we're thinking about how Meet Me at the Market can continue building on what we've learned during this first season. That includes strengthening connections among markets, creating more opportunities to support market leaders, continuing to increase the visibility of Georgia farmers and food producers, and developing the Market of Distinction certification.

This first year reinforced something at the heart of Meet Me at the Market: farmers markets don't just happen. Behind every Saturday morning are people building relationships, supporting vendors, solving problems, creating opportunities for local businesses, and giving their communities a place to gather. As we move into the next season of this work, we're looking forward to continuing to learn alongside them and finding new ways to support what they're already building.