Jacksonville Farmer's Market Seeks To Expand

[iluvolives]

Dream on. I've been living in 5pts, King St. and Edgewood for 25 years. Some things will never change.

The fact that you offered up Ernest St and Stockton as potential places where yuppies might go, shows just how much postive change has occured in that area in the last 25 years...even in just the last 5-10.

[ben says]

Meh. Location location location. Needs to go to Annie Lytle or space of old apartments at Stockton and Ernest St + bodega + lots across Ernest.

I have been going to the market for years and 75% of my friends just will not go up there no matter how many times Ive dazzled people with what I bought. You hear one horror story after another of something someone heard years ago. These same broke people will spend twice the money for the exact same thing at RAM or King St. People from Avondale will not cross the tracks. Riverside peeps will not cross I10.

The location is PERFECT. 5 minutes from both downtown, Riverside, Avondale..10 minutes from Ortega and San Marco/St. Nicholas...perfect exit/entry for both people and businesses, semis and flatbeds.

My only knock(s) against the place are....they should have an indoor section....better quality control (the product is fine, but the health/sanitation department seems to be lacking)....and they should have more options. Essentially, I'd do ANYTHING to get this place looking like DeKalb's.

http://www.dekalbfarmersmarket.com

[Ocklawaha]

Western edge Skyway station anyone?

[Keith-N-Jax]

How likely is an actual expansion? Are they in a fact finding/due diligence mindset right now? Are they sold on the idea of expanding, and are now trying to figure out who/what/when/where/how?

I'm intrigued. As fieldafm pointed out, this Farmer's Market is the "real deal" and could only get better with an expansion.

p.s....love the Asian fruit guy!! Jackfruit, passion fruit, durian, dragon fruit...you can't find this stuff anywhere else!

Who has Jackfruit? I've been wanting to try some.

[ben says]

^ The Asian fruit and veggie vendor towards the front of the market on the left side.

Sorry, I wish I could be more specific....uhhhh...walk in, second aisle from left, one of the first stalls. You'll recognize the dragon fruit and passion fruit and tons of different fresh hot peppers. It's that guy/gal.

[02roadking]

How likely is an actual expansion? Are they in a fact finding/due diligence mindset right now? Are they sold on the idea of expanding, and are now trying to figure out who/what/when/where/how?

I'm intrigued. As fieldafm pointed out, this Farmer's Market is the "real deal" and could only get better with an expansion.

p.s....love the Asian fruit guy!! Jackfruit, passion fruit, durian, dragon fruit...you can't find this stuff anywhere else!

Who has Jackfruit? I've been wanting to try some.

You don't know "Jack"? Or do you? This is a "jackfruit", native to Southeast Asia & now an invasive species in Brazilian forests. Jackfruit, the world's largest edible tree-borne fruit, can grow to 80 lbs. and 3 feet long. The flesh is starchy & fibrous & is a source of dietary fibre. The flavour is similar to a tart banana. It can be eaten unripe cooked, or ripe uncooked. Dishes include custards, cakes, halo-halo and more. Ripe jackfruit arils are sometimes seeded, fried or freeze-dried and sold as jackfruit chips. A staple of Asian cuisines and rarely seen in Jacksonville, you can find these offered regularly or by request at Sans Produce at JFM.

P.S. Avoid the common mistake of confusing a jackfruit with the similar looking, but unrelated, durian, also originally from Asia.

Taken from:  http://www.facebook.com/JaxFarmersMarket?ref=ts

[BridgeTroll]

How likely is an actual expansion? Are they in a fact finding/due diligence mindset right now? Are they sold on the idea of expanding, and are now trying to figure out who/what/when/where/how?

I'm intrigued. As fieldafm pointed out, this Farmer's Market is the "real deal" and could only get better with an expansion.

p.s....love the Asian fruit guy!! Jackfruit, passion fruit, durian, dragon fruit...you can't find this stuff anywhere else!

^They already own the land and building.  I'd say an expansion is likely at some point.  What type of expansion and how it is ultimately pulled off, is up for grabs.

Meh. Location location location. Needs to go to Annie Lytle or space of old apartments at Stockton and Ernest St + bodega + lots across Ernest.

I have been going to the market for years and 75% of my friends just will not go up there no matter how many times Ive dazzled people with what I bought. You hear one horror story after another of something someone heard years ago. These same broke people will spend twice the money for the exact same thing at RAM or King St. People from Avondale will not cross the tracks. Riverside peeps will not cross I10.

I think the location is fine and it shouldn't be moved because a few yuppies are scared to venture in an industrial district.  It plays a critical role for the nearby neighborhoods that don't have places like Winn-Dixie and Publix operating in them. With the amount of warehouses and food related industries in the area, I think the farmer's market could grow and stimulate the development of a "wholesale" or "market" district, similar to what Detroit's Eastern Market has done for the area surrounding it.  To do this, future expansion plans must create more activity along Beaver Street itself instead of the space between the buildings and street curb serving as surface parking.

Im with you Lake...!

[Ocklawaha]

Meh. Location location location. Needs to go to Annie Lytle or space of old apartments at Stockton and Ernest St + bodega + lots across Ernest.

I have been going to the market for years and 75% of my friends just will not go up there no matter how many times Ive dazzled people with what I bought. You hear one horror story after another of something someone heard years ago. These same broke people will spend twice the money for the exact same thing at RAM or King St. People from Avondale will not cross the tracks. Riverside peeps will not cross I10.

The Farmers Market location is at the junction of the three mainline railroads which service Florida. This causes the freight rates by truck or train to remain lower, so everybody wins.

As for location, location, location, the market is located the Beaver Street, Streetcar line, of the old Jacksonville Traction Company. So being transit friendly, there is no reason why the Skyway couldn't extend to the Farmers Market over the railroad yards. It would be quite simple to extend it further into Woodstock or north toward Edward Waters.

[dougsandiego]

Great idea. Expand it! It is useful, health giving and supports local agriculture. People love food and permanent farmers' markets all over the country have proven to be big attractions. San Diego has many neighborhood weekly markets, but is only now going to get a permanent one in Barrio Logan. Another smaller one is to be included in the Old Police Headquarters which is now undergoing restoration. Sites for permanent markets seem to be very difficult to find and develop due to land and development costs. You have one. Cherish it.

[birdilicious]

Meh. Location location location.

That should be the last thing on people's minds.  If you show positive growth in an area people will flock to it.  I remember when people thought that King Street was dangerous, but now you have a lively night life over there.  5 points was a scary place at night, but now you have a nice theater, some nice dining.  Beautiful apartments and condos.  You don't improve an area by moving things out.  You improve an area by building it up and bringing people in.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I know what Jackfruit is,(roadking) just thought I would have to visit a market in Central or South Florida to gets some. I will look for this guy when I go back there. Thanks B S

[Debbie Thompson]

Bird, Lake, Ock, ditto from me.  They'll come, or they'll continue to miss out.  Lots of other people will come, and they won't miss out.

I can't wait to see what happens.  I would love to see a commercial kitchen in the former grocery so artisan bakers who can't afford a commercial kitchen can reserve it to bake there and have booths there.   And then, of course, Condaxis across the street would have to have a coffee booth to go with the baked goods.  How great would that be?  Artists could rent gallery space along the walls to sell their art, or consign it.

I would hate to see the rents, and therefore the retail food prices, go up though.  Please keep it affordable.  Not looking for foo-foo, looking for food.  :-)

[TPC]

Thanks to everyone for all the info, I'll be sure to check it out.

[Pinky]

How about a Contract Commissary/Kitchen for food trucks?