AgSouth announces $25,000 in funding for farmers markets in Georgia, South Carolina

AgSouth Farm Credit recently announced $25,000 in funding for 50 farmers markets, receiving $500 each, throughout Georgia and South Carolina through its Think Outside the Store grant program.

“To be eligible to receive a grant, applicants had to provide a detailed marketing plan describing how they would use the grant funds to promote the market,” Christy Smith, AgSouth marketing director, said. “We received many applications with some very creative marketing plans, and it was very hard for our selection committee to choose among the many excellent applications we received.”

Grant funding, split among 23 farmers markets in Georgia and 27 markets in South Carolina, will allow the markets to better promote themselves and, in doing so, will help the local farmers selling products at those markets connect with customers.

“Many farmers get their start selling to local markets,” Smith said. “Our grant program was designed to support these young farmers by helping to create public awareness of how choosing to shop at your local farmers market benefits not only a community’s health, but also its economy, much in the same way our own patronage program [the cooperative’s profit sharing program] benefits not only our members, but the communities we serve. This is the sixth year we have been supporting our local markets, and we’re proud to continue that support.”