Fernandina Beach Market Place – An outdoor shopping experience

Fernandina Beach Market Place
By Judi Mackie
January 13, 2022
Macaroons from Breakable Hearts

The Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers market is open every Saturday, in historic downtown, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Located on North Seventh Street, between Centre and Alachua Streets, this is an outdoor shopping experience where you can feel the fresh, crisp air, and social distance with ease while you shop for locally grown and produced seasonal fruits and vegetables, artisan foods, seafood, fresh baked breads, and humanely raised beef, pork, and chicken.

Chesser Seafood catches wild shrimp during the week from their boat, the Brat, then they bring about 200 pounds to the farmers market for your convenience. They will even take the heads off for you at no charge. Upstream Alaskan has a cooler full of frozen salmon fillets, salmon burgers, and salmon dips which are all great choices for healthier eating in 2022. JD Beef has a trailer load of beef and pork cuts, and fresh whole chickens.
Other healthy options include Vegan Amelia with a plethora of desserts, biscuits, and cakes. Or try the gluten free choices from Something Good Bakery. Kings Kountry Produce is bringing their homegrown strawberries, and many of the winter veggies are being harvested, too, like purple cauliflower and Romanesco. They have tomatoes, onions, colorful peppers, and more. Gypsy Microgreens is back this market with her nutrient dense young plants. These younger cuttings pack quite a punch in flavor and are loaded with vitamins. Bacon’s Select Produce will have a selection of salad mix, and bundles of fresh kale grown in their hydroponic farm, but they always sell out so get there early or you may only find he has his wife’s popular salad dressing left on his table.
For your listening entertainment, Bruce Beville has put together a wonderful band of musicians playing guitars, the mandolin, a fiddle, and a banjo. There will even be a special guest singer belting out some Elvis tunes, too.
Our sister market, The Wildlight Market Place, is open on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. Located just east of I-95 in the Wildlight community, you will find friendly artists, knowledgeable food vendors, and food trucks. Located outdoors in the fresh air, this is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning with your family.
This week, Judie Mackie is guest hosting the Wildlight Market Place where you can find paintings, woodworking, unique cups, soaps, and candles. There will also be booths of candy, vegetables, macaroons, cakes in a cup, freshly made guacamole, local honey, Ferra Bakery, Totally Baked gluten-free treats, and more. Come on out and let Judie show you around the market, give you information on how to become a vendor, sponsor, or musician, talk about seasonal recipes, and tell you how your non-profit organization can have a free booth space to share your message with our community.
Both markets are open from 9 – 1, and more information can be found by liking either page on Facebook. Well behaved, leashed pets are welcome at both markets.