The Sandhills Family Heritage Association has been awarded a $31,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to strengthen and expand the Sandhills Farmers Market in Spring Lake. The grant is 1 of 85 distributed to various organizations in 43 states. “Farmers markets are an increasingly popular source of fruits and vegetables,” said Agricultural Secretary Ed Schafer. “Locally grown and locally known sales of fresh produce strengthen the connection between farmers and the community.”
The Sandhills Farmers Market provides an affordable, efficient, and effective market place for underserved, limited-resource landowners, farmers, and handcrafters to sell their products and goods. “Promoting sustainable farming to enhance income, building community based economics and increasing awareness of African American contributions to North Carolina’s economy are major components of our work,” said Ammie Jenkins, SFHA Executive Director. Additionally, through a series of farmer and consumer training workshops the market will promote community health and well-being.
The Sandhills Farmers Market brings multiple benefits to the Town of Spring Lake, Ft. Bragg and surrounding areas. For the community, it provides fresh, seasonal, nutritional and tasty produce. For the growers and producers, the Farmers Market means small-scale economic development. It also gives local growers and producers of agricultural products the opportunity to interact directly with their customers, providing an opportunity to build relationships and to exchange information. Through this exchange, the Market goes far in providing an educational forum to help preserve North Carolina’s rich agricultural and cultural heritage.
The Sandhills Farmers Market is located on 230 Chapel Hill Road in Spring Lake, NC and can be conveniently accessed from either Highway 87 or Highway 210. Opening day for the 2009 market season is June 13th. Hours of operation are on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m from June through October.
The Sandhills Family Heritage Association is a community-based nonprofit 501©(3) organization that provides programs and services to build economic self-sufficiency and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of African American families in the Sandhills Region of North Carolina.
Growers and handcrafters may contact Ammie Jenkins at (910) 436-3406 or
910-497-0628 or email sandhillsfamily@yahoo.com.
Visit our blog at sandhillsfarmersmkt.blogspot.com
Growers and handcrafters may contact Ammie Jenkins at (910) 436-3406 or
910-497-0628 or email sandhillsfamily@yahoo.com.
Visit our blog at sandhillsfarmersmkt.blogspot.com
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