An organization meeting for the 2017 Pike County Farmers Market is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 17, at the Pike County Extension Office on South Three Notch Street in Troy.

Nick D’Andrea, market manager, said this will be a very important meeting for those who are considering participating in the market.

“We will discuss items of interest, not only to produce farmers, but also to artists, crafters and those who do home baking and food preservation,” D’Andrea said. “Of special interest will be the presentation of a proposed new farmers market building.”

Melissa Sanders, City of Troy planning and zoning administrator/community development director, will make the presentation that includes a diagram of the site and the architectural plans for the farmers market building.

“The planned site for the farmers market building is the grassy area between the Troy Bank and Trust main office and Bicentennial Park,” D’Andrea said. “That’s the same location where we currently have the farmers market. This will be a multi-purpose building that the Pike County Farmers Market will use part of the time.”

D’Andrea said the farmer’s market building is only in the planning stage and financing options, including grant funds, are being pursued.

The Pike County Farmers Market will open in early June and run through the first two weeks in September at the location next to Troy Bank and Trust.

“The farmers market will be open from 4:30 until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 7 until 11 a.m. on Saturdays,” D’Andrea said. “At the organizational meeting on Tuesday, we’ll also discuss setting up the market in downtown Troy once a month.”

Those in attendance at the Pike County Farmers Market organizational meeting will watch a short video that explains how market participants qualify to accept EBT cards and Alabama Farmers Market Authority vouchers.

Don Wambles, authority director, will be in attendance and available to answer any questions about the vouchers.

Farmers can’t gather without talking about the weather so weather will be a topic of discussion at the organizational meeting.

“We’ll get a weather report for the spring and summer months,” D’Andrea said. “The long-range weather forecast is a dry spring and summer with rainfall one to two inches below normal per month. The prediction is that we’ll have a hotter summer than normal so with those two factors, irrigation will be a major consideration.

D’Andrea said the organizational meeting will be informative and those who are considering participating or just want to know more are encouraged to attend.

“Of course, producers will want to attend but we will also have booth space for artists and crafters and for baked goods,” D’Andrea said. “So, come and learn more about the market and whether it’s an opportunity for you.”