Gwinnett Daily Post

SUWANEE -- The increasingly popular Suwanee Farmers Market will open in less than two weeks.

City organizers capped the vendors at 25 at each market. They will sell fresh, in-season produce, salsa, jellies, sauces, bread, eggs, meat, baked goods and other natural products. The market is restricted to farmers who grow what they sell. The market is open from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays (through Aug. 7) and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays through Oct. 6, except Suwanee Day on Sept. 15.

"It helps that we get a lot of good, quality farmers," said Amy Doherty, events coordinator at the City of Suwanee.

The demand for an additional day, and the number of farmers to supply the market created the Tuesday opening two years ago.

Last year, the market was extended for two weeks because of the summer weather pattern that allowed farmers to have more crops.

This year, the city requires homemade items be cooked in a commercial kitchen that's inspected by the health department.

"We are fortunate in Suwanee to have a Shared Kitchens facility and have several vendors who use that as their cooking location," Doherty said.

Doherty said the market draws customers from Braselton and vendors from Flowery Branch. Doherty said customers drive from miles outside of Suwanee because they like a specific vendor, or know the nine-year market is established. One vendor is a beekeeper from Flowery Branch who is popular, Doherty said, because he provides recipes and other uses for honey that customers appreciate.

"It's so nice to shake hands with the folks who grow your food," Doherty said.