Since 2007, the Lake Oconee Farmer’s Market at Harmony Crossing has been an important part of Eatonton’s summer and fall seasons. It currently boasts more than 40 vendors who participate each week from May to December.
During the summer, from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday until Sept. 13, it allows local farmers, artists, and small businesses to showcase and sell their crops, works, and wares.
Although Ashley Beresch has worked in her current role as manager of the Lake Oconee Farmers' Market for only four years, she explained that it has been a constant presence in the area for more than 18 years.
“The Farmer’s Market has been around since the [Harmony Crossing] shopping center began,” Beresch said. “They wanted to have a place for farmers and makers in the area to come set up, and it was kind of a passion project of the developer.”
According to Beresch, the market provides a wide variety of options, including meats, baked goods, and arts and crafts. Many vendors travel from surrounding counties to participate in the event each week.
“You could do all your grocery shopping at the market, which I think is pretty amazing,” Beresch said. “We prioritize local and regional growers.”
Recently, Beresch has found a “younger generation” of vendors introducing their businesses to the farmers’ market. She said she believes their arrival has made the most significant change to the weekly occasion.
“Younger people are now growing their food or raising animals, doing more craft work, and bringing it to the market,” Beresch said. “I think it’s been great to see a new generation take that up and bring it to the market, and we now have people raising dairy cows again and bringing that back to Eatonton."
Organic plants, often consisting of vegetables and fresh flowers, are also among the more popular items sold by vendors.
Eatonton’s deLacy Leverette owns The Leaf & Bell Flower Farm. She converted her passion for gardening into a full-time business last year, but this season marks her first as a Lake Oconee Farmer’s Market vendor.
“I think it’s been very well-received, and people have said that it was needed in our community, so that’s nice,” Leverette said.
She explained that she got the idea to start her business about two years ago, after her husband began her flower garden. She then decided she needed to follow her passion for work.
Leverette said she believes joining the farmer’s market has greatly helped her business grow. Since becoming a vendor, she has found that sunflowers, dahlias, and pincushions are the most popular with customers.
“[Being a vendor] is a great way to interact with the community and get new faces, new friends,” Leverette said. “They can tell us what they want, so we can take that back home, give it some thought, and implement it into our business plan.”
Similarly, Grace Caricofe owns Gracefully Baked Co., which she started early last year. She sells various baked goods made with sourdough and is in her second year as a market vendor. She found that her original sourdough, English muffins, and cheddar or jalapeno loaves are most popular among her customers.
“[The market] has been the biggest influence on my business since opening,” Caricofe stated. “They supported me through thick and thin, and it has just blossomed since.”
Caricofe said she believes the success of her market booth helped Gracefully Baked grow tremendously over just a year, leading to the opening of a Lake Oconee storefront. Regardless, Caricofe looks forward to continuing to create and sell the products she loves at the farmer’s market as well.
“My favorite thing about the market is seeing customers, because when I’m baking, I’m by myself. So, getting to see feedback and people loving the product is my favorite part,” Caricofe said. “I’ve created a community with business owners that I love to see, so I have lots of friends and acquaintances at the market, and I love seeing more new people come in and help.”