Extra day to buy produce sparks celebration at Myrtle's Market

Jun 24, 2009 — The Sun News

Johanna D. Wilson

Jun. 24, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Rita Cauthen screamed in delight, jumped into the air and then hugged Crystal Nickerson tight.

Others shouted, too. People raised their fists in victory. A celebration was taking place.

Cauthen hadn't won the lottery Wednesday afternoon, but she was celebrating with other shoppers and vendors about Myrtle's Market getting its Saturday back.

Independence Day will be the first Saturday it will be open for business this season. Mark Kruea, city spokesman, said it will cost the city about $8,000 to reinstate Saturday as an operation day for the market.

"I am ecstatic,'' said Cauthen, a regular at the farmers market in Myrtle Beach. "They should have never taken away a day in the first place. So, I'm happy it's back. When you do something wrong, you need to own up to it.''

At Tuesday's meeting, the Myrtle Beach City Council decided to reinstate Myrtle's Market, which the city sponsors, back to a three-day operation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The city had cut out Saturday, after asking vendors which day they would prefer to lose, to save between $12,000 and $14,000 for the city in a tight budget year, Kruea said.

Market devotees, however, were upset and started a petition that garnered nearly 1,110 signatures in less than a month.

The petition was started by a customer of Indigo Farms Produce and Garden Center near Calabash, N.C., shortly after the market opened in April.

"I feel great about it,'' said Sarah Bellamy of Indigo Farms, as she sold blueberries and other produce Wednesday at Myrtle's Market. "We are getting back to three days, as it always should have been.''

Neal Williamson, market manager, said everybody is thrilled because losing a day became a huge inconvenience for customers who couldn't make it to the market during the week.

"Everybody is tickled to death,'' said Williamson, who said about 750 people shop each open day, up from 550 last year.

Today, the parking lot was full and people waited patiently in their cars for customers to load their produce and leave so they could get a parking space. New vendors are also at the market, including Meliton Munoz from M&M Farms in Turbeville and Paul Jones from Aynor.

Williamson said if a farmer grows at least 65 percent of his own produce he or she can make $100,000 during the season at the market.

Jones grows all of his own produce at his Aynor home, and he has blueberries, blackberries, peaches and plums today for sale. The peaches are $5 for a basket, while the other fruits are $3.50 for a pint or $6 for a quart.

Cauthen, who bought peaches, blackberries and corn, said she can't wait to see the little ladies from Covenant Towers return to the market on Saturdays.

"Saturdays at Myrtle's Market was their outing,'' said Cauthen, a home care professional. "They would come out there, pulling their oxygen tanks, just to get to the market on Saturdays to buy fresh produce. I am glad Mayor [John] Rhodes finally listened to the voice of the people because the market is something we need, and something we love.''

Here's a list of local farmers markets:

Myrtle's Market

10th Avenue North and Oak Street in Myrtle Beach

Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., April-October

Call 457-5618

Georgetown County Farmers Market

310 Greenwich Drive at East Bay Park

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., April-November

Call 545-3319

Shallotte Farmers Market

Riverside Park (Corner of N.C. 130 and Whiteville Road)

Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon, May 2-October

Call 910-754-5014 or 910-754-4032

Conway Farmers Market

Under the arches of the Main Street Bridge in downtown

Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 6-October

Call 248-2273

Pawleys Island Farmers Market

Parkersville Park on Duncan Road

Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., June 10-Aug. 12

St. Michael Catholic Church Farmers Market

572 Cypress Ave. in Garden City Beach

Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon

Call 650-2405

Newstex ID: 35986652