By Rachael Schultz
The word “organic” scares a lot of college students because they translate it into “expensive,” but there are three affordable farmers markets in Savannah that provide local, organic food.
Forsyth Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from 9-1 at the south end of Forsyth Park. They have fresh, regionally grown products including produce, baked goods, eggs, chicken, plants and herbs. One of the biggest draws of the farmers market is its strong sense of community and the interaction between farmer and consumer. Learning where your food comes from and, for the farmer, where your food is going, creates an intimate bond that brings people back every week.
Joe King, known to customers as Farmer Joe, travels an hour and a half every Saturday to sell produce from Clark & Sons Organic farm. He says that he likes going to Forsyth Farmers Market for the atmosphere and the people. “I love bringing fresh produce that’s straight from the garden and I like to see the expression on people’s faces,” he said.
The Savannah Food Co-op offers a more structured way to buy local food. Co-op members pay a $24 yearly fee for access to local produce, meat, shrimp, eggs, dairy products, coffee and baked goods. They place their order every other Sunday and pick it up the following Thursday. While the Savannah Food Co-op was started to help families get healthy, sustainably-produced food at affordable prices, it’s also perfect for college students.
Fourth-year industrial design major Clara Bunker, who is from Savannah, has been a member for almost six months. “I personally like the Co-op because I know what will be available and I can pay easily online,” she said. One major draw for college students is that the Co-op is often cheaper than grocery stores because all members are required to volunteer, so the business doesn’t have to pay extra people.
And while free time is scarce for college students, Bunker says she likes spending her time volunteering because it “provides a sense of community and a feeling of responsibility within the Co-op.”
Polk’s Fresh Market is one of the oldest open-air markets in Savannah. For more than 50 years, Polk’s has provided Savannahians with fresh, local produce, as well as local fruit jams, jellies, preservatives and coffee. They also have a restaurant where they turn their local produce into delicious Southern dishes. What sets Polk’s apart from other Savannah markets is that it’s open six days a week, Monday through Saturday. In addition to their reliable produce, their convenient hours are what bring a lot of customers back.
