Haile Farmers Market — Local services in Gainesville

I will start by saying this is a lovely community event that really gives you a feeling of what makes Gainesville great - the people and the community. I am not sure that "farmer's market" is the best term for this as there is a relatively limited selection of fresh fruits, veggies, proteins, etc. A huge portion is prepared foods (sandwiches, breads, pastries, etc.) and random non-edible items (jewelry, plants, etc.). It's a lovely place to go grab a coffee, a pastry, and maybe some fresh eggs, but expect to pay some inflated prices - $14-16 for a sandwich, upwards of $8-10 for a pastry, etc.

From what a few of the vendors have told me, the organizers of the market have been known to encourage vendors to raise their prices. I would like to think the organizers' hearts are in the right place and they're just trying to help local vendors make a good living, and the Haile area is generally not strapped for cash, but I think this practice effectively excludes some of our community from the Haile Market. Even among people who can afford it, it has developed a bit of a reputation for basically price gouging. I think this is an unfortunate stain on what is otherwise a lovely gathering, and I hope the organizers will consider allowing vendors to determine their own prices - the products are generally high enough quality that they would do fine competing...

Most of the produce here is from the docks in Tampa. This is where most fruit and vegetables vendors obtain there products. It is also the same place Wal-Mart, Publix and Winn-Dixie get theirs. Very little to none is locally grown. One of the grass fed beef vendors doesn't raise his own cattle, he buys cattle from farmers who just tell him the beef was raised organically and was grass fed. So maybe it is and maybe it isn't. The same goes for the rest of his ORGANICALLY PRODUCED meats. He doesn't know because he doesn't actually raise the cattle. At least at the major stores there are standards the supplier has to go by. At a farmers market people can tell you whatever they think will get them a sale. I try to eat organically grown food and meat, but I also want to know that is truly organic and locally raised. Why pay extra for the same thing you can get at Publix? At least there you can take it back if something is...

I sooooo recommend you put Haile Farmers Market on your Saturday morning calendar. It’s very eclectic, with vendors selling cheese, jewelry, eggs and produce of all kinds, woodwork, juices, ceramics and glass, meat - cooked and raw - beautiful flowers, mushrooms that don’t even look real they’re so pretty, gifts, coffee, pizza, arepas, rocks and shells, baked goods, art and more! The quality of just about everything is outstanding. You can’t get lettuces at the grocery store like the ones you’ll find here. I buy a bunch of mixed and often exotic flowers every single week and they usually last until the next Saturday or longer. You’d spend $50 at the local Joe’s create the kind of arrangements you get there for $12-15. The bread there is very fresh and not too expensive. Bottom line? Get up early and get to the Haile Farmers Market. You’ll be soooo...