Amelia Farmers’ Market Opening Celebration at the Shops of Omni Amelia Island Plantation – Fernandina location to close

Press Release from Gil Langley

Photo courtesy of Fernandina Farmers’ Market

Amelia Island Tourism and Development Counci

The Amelia Farmers Market will open on Saturday mornings from 9am-1pm beginning on September 1 at the Shops of Omni Amelia Island Plantation featuring the same award-winning farmers, food artisans and plant growers who formerly sold at the downtown farmers market.

Having outgrown 7th Street, the new location offers more open green space, gazebos for seating, room for additional vendors, accessible parking, and amenities which will make shopping at the Market more convenient and pleasant for everyone. “While it is sad to leave downtown, we are proud of our new picturesque shopper-friendly setting where our community can meet and mingle while they shop for their just-harvested produce, gourmet foods, and beautiful plants.” said Smith, the Market organizer. As part of the opening celebration, Omni’s Chef Robert Reinhardt will host a hand-made Buttermilk Biscuit Bar featuring cage-free scrambled eggs, farmstead cheese, a natural breakfast meat selection and more. The Amelia Farmers Market open Saturday morning from 9am-1pm, features farm fresh produce as well as a variety of organic products and specialty foods. Discover gourmet baked goods from crusty breads to delectable desserts and prepared foods such as jellies, relishes and marinades. The Market is also the perfect location to choose from a wide variety of specialty tropical plants and landscaping plants, including orchids, herbs, and garden flowers. The Market is located at the Shops of Omni Amelia Island Plantation. No pets, please. For more information call (904) 491-4872 or visit <http://www.ameliafarmersmarket.com> www.ameliafarmersmarket.com.

August 27, 2012 3:12 p.m.

17 Comments
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tom
tom(@theclaresgmail-com)
11 years ago

I think parking will be a problem!

Mike Spino
Mike Spino (@guest_1201)
11 years ago

Not nice to take business away from downtown. I hope the vendors do well but I wonder if there are enough folks on campus at the Plantation to support the market year round. I don’t see city folks going down there regularly like they did in downtown. Is there enough parking?

gerry clare
gerry clare(@gerrycclaregmail-com)
11 years ago

Any truth to the talk about a farmer’s market @ Lime & 14th? I can understand moving if Centre St was too small, but not to a resort area?

Lisa Waas
Lisa Waas (@guest_1205)
11 years ago

I think this is a terrible move. Our downtown is accessible for walking, biking and driving. It brought business to the downtown. I know it seemed necessary but couldn’t you have two markets? One at each location? Sad to see it leave the downtown.

Caroline
Caroline (@guest_1209)
11 years ago

I personally think that this is a horrible decision. This move will take business away for the downtown restaurants and merchants. Why could they have not expanded the market to the other side of the street? I’m shocked that there is not another area in the downtown area that could support a larger Farmer’s Market. The Omni Amelia Island Plantation is out of the way and certainly not convenient for locals when running errands on Saturday morning. I also don’t think that there is enough parking to support the market as well as space for all of the vendors booths.

Diane
Diane (@guest_1211)
11 years ago

I totally disagree with the decision to move the Farmers Market to the Omni Plantation. Who wants to leave downtown to drive thru those roundabouts? You are taking business away from the center of town where people can walk to restaurants, shop locally, view the ocean and enjoy the comaraderie of locals. BAD, BAD MOVE!

Marc
Marc(@willimarcgmail-com)
11 years ago

This is, indeed, a sad day to learn that the farmer’s market is leaving downtown Fernandina Beach. I always felt the market was a big part of the town’s culture and charm and I will miss it. It was an easy walk from my house and I enjoyed the buzz it brought to downtown on Saturdays. Not certain exactly how it has “…outgrown 7th Street” since they never used more than about two thirds of the block, but I’m sure the organizers have their reasons for leaving us. On the surface this doesn’t seem like a vey good idea for the community.

Cynthia Fagen
Cynthia Fagen (@guest_1228)
11 years ago

I was the winner of the “peoples choice” prize for a Dutch Apple pie I made for the inaugural farmers market. It was really fun, now I will probably never go because of the location. The loss of my trade will be exactly 1 cinnamon bun a week.

Susan Taylor
Susan Taylor (@guest_1240)
11 years ago

We have been Fernandina Farmers Market “regulars” since it first opened, in 2002. That’s ten years! I am shocked and saddened that the management of the Farmers Market somehow thought it was a good idea to abandon downtown and move the market to the Plantation. This is a terrible decision, one that stands to benefit the Omni Plantation Shops and nobody else. Saturday mornings won’t be the same.

Gayle
Gayle(@gqrybickiyahoo-com)
11 years ago

I will really miss market. It was so convenient to library and coffee shop. Loved buying my hanging baskets there. Will not be able to travel down to Omni, so they’ve lost a loyal customer.

Bob Weintraub
Bob Weintraub(@rukbat23bellsouth-net)
11 years ago

The full story has not been told. Omni Shops have not been doing well and Omni was seeking a way to bring more people there. Did money change hands? What incentive did Omni provide to the Farmers’ Market managers to persuade them to move to a less accessible/desirable spot?

Speedy
Speedy (@guest_1274)
11 years ago

Relocating The Farmer’s Market will result in the loss of one of our most special “gems” within our island culture. I have said many times if I was a real estate professional, I would insist my client take a Saturday morning drive to The Farmer’s Market. What an enchanting introduction to Amelia Island. Plus let’s not forgot, part of the experience is to stroll through our quaint village afterwards, taking in all the sights, flavors and history it offers. I believe even those who live in the Plantation thinks this is not a well thought out idea.

Bailey
Bailey (@guest_1278)
11 years ago

I never found any problem with parking downtown, and recently, there seemed to always be a couple of extra spots for extra vendors. We enjoyed riding our bikes downtown, but certainly won’t be doing so to the south end. Also, why not have the market where it started at the downtown park? There is plenty of parking and vendor space there, and I never understood why it moved from there in the first place. There is more to the decision of the current move than what is being given, and I agree that moving it from a historic downtown area to a resort is an awful decision.

AmeliaIslandRon
AmeliaIslandRon(@lindhartgmail-com)
11 years ago

Sad, it was a part of the ambience of downtwn and the historic district. Why not move it to the south end of the waterfront (where there are new gazebos also)?

Wendy
Wendy(@wlmck01gmail-com)
11 years ago

I live off the island and have enjoyed shopping for fresh produce and so many other wonderful items at the Farmer’s Market. It was convenient and easy to get to and I haven’t experienced parking issues that is partly being blamed for them moving. So what if I had to walk a block – I certainly needed the exercise and it gave me a chance to shop at some of the stores on Centre Street. Now with their new location, it’s too far out of my way to travel to The Omni Plantation. I’m sure I’m not the only who feels this way. I will miss them. Isn’t it strange how the privileged always get what they want?

Ann Garber
Ann Garber(@hankspend1aol-com)
11 years ago

What a shame! I always felt it was a very special feature of our downtown. I will not be going to the Plantation for the Farmer’s market.

Mary
Mary (@guest_1320)
11 years ago

What a sad and foolish move.
I look forward to a new farmers market to replace it downtown.