The Vance County Board of Commissioners on Monday voted to drop the application fee for vendors at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market from $30 to $20 in an effort to attract more potential producers to sell their vegetables, fruit and other products at the seasonal market.
Vance County Cooperative Extension Director Dr. Wykia Macon explained to commissioners that she, in consultation with the market advisory board and extension staff, is willing to not only lower the fee, but also to drop the daily $10 setup fee.
The market opens on Saturday, May 3.
“We’re ready to get started,” Macon said, and will move forward to approve this year’s guidelines now that commissioners have approved lowering the application fee.
Macon said the advisory board also is planning to open up the market property to other uses, including installation of a community garden and a health and wellness fair on Friday, May 2.
Commissioner Tommy Hester said he’d be in favor of doing away with fees altogether, adding that the facility, now 10 years old, is a way to help look out for local farmers who want to sell their produce.
Macon welcomed commissioners to attend the next market advisory board meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 2 p.m.
County Manager C. Renee Perry said there is a small increase in the 2025-26 budget for the farmers market, which is probably the first increase since the market opened in 2014.
“Our marketing budget is very small,” Macon said, adding that it will take “a concerted effort” to increase foot traffic and vendor participation at the market. “Advertising is just one part of it.”
The community garden project is taking shape.
More volunteers are needed at upcoming workdays:
- Mar. 21 – working on establishing garden borders – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Mar. 29 – marking walkways and preparing for stone installation – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Apr. 11 – installing garden beds – 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
“We want to have the community realize that this is their market, and the garden is theirs,” said Extension Agent Michael Ellington. The community garden would be a perfect spot for those who want a garden but lack the space or the confidence to plant, tend and harvest on their own.
There also is a series of market vendor workshops that is being held on Saturdays in March at Salem United Methodist Church, 4151 Salem Rd., Oxford. The workshops are free to attend and no registration is required. Upcoming sessions are as follows:
- 15 – marketing – product placement for optimum visibility on tables in the market
- Mar. 22 – knowing your customers and follow-up to sales
- Mar. 29 – basic food safety
The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr.