Farmer’s market is set to open
The Jay council approved Monday night for Operations Manager Eric Seib to set up vendors and hours of operation for the newly renovated farmer's market, which may open as soon as Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Produce seller Clarence Carnley looked at the facility recently and said he is interested in selling seafood, citing the high cost of fruit as difficult to make a profit.
Carnley said he purchases fruit from Bailey's Produce and Nursery Market in Pensacola and the cost makes it hard to turn a profit.
“I've been trying to sell apples, and you have to spend more to get them,” said Carnley. “I bought 72 apples that cost me $33. That's 45 cents an apple and you can't make anything,” said Carnley.
Carnley has the proper licensing and is wanting to sell shrimp right off of the boat at the market in Jay. He said catfish will come out of a pond and that he has a commercial fishing license to cover that.
“There won't be fish up here to dress, they will be filleted out, possibly some small whole catfish,” said Carnley. “I'm hoping to get some mullet and other fish, even scrawfish, maybe in season.”
Seib told the council the market rules state that the town should sell locally produced goods, not resale, because then they are competing against grocery stores.
Seib said local is considered fresh enough from Pensacola, not from further away.
“We can interpret that as local, based upon that it's not from Mexico, or overseas,” said Seib. “It's local.”
Jay Mayor Shon Owens said he had a little confusion about the guidelines and regulations but he does support progress, with some research.
“I would suggest that if we want to move forward with the seafood side of it and maybe on the fruit side, let's do a little more research on it just so we are confident that what we are doing with the fruit and the vegetable side, that we're doing it the right way,” said Owens. “As this grows, and we see more people entertain the idea of selling fruits and vegetables in our area, we want to make sure we are giving everybody the opportunity to do it the right way. I would agree with the seafood side now, if the council would agree.”
Carnley said he would rather deal with just seafood. He said he has been selling fruit recently and that there were vendors there who were practically giving their fruit away.
Seib said he has a man who is considering selling greens right now, because they are in season.
The council discussed various hours and days for the market to be open. Seib suggested Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as an opportunity for Carnley, but he said it is up to the council. He said that the vegetable man who had contacted him about being a vendor wanted to be there selling from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A motion was made by Owens to move forward on the seafood, allowing Seib to work with Carnley on setting up, operations and details. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wayne Godwin, and it carried.
