Gwinnett Daily Post

SUWANEE -- A farmers market that draws customers from as far away as Braselton and vendors from Flowery Branch is less than two months from its annual opening.

The Suwanee Farmers Market, through the City of Suwanee, is accepting vendor applications for the popular homegrown event. To ensure quality among vendors, the city caps booths at 25 for each day even though it could realistically draw 50-60, organizers said. The market consists of farmers and gardeners who grow the products they sell, and to makers of salsa, sauces, jelly, bread, granola and baked goods.

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

The deadline to apply is March 26, and the market will open May 1.

Doherty said customers drive from miles outside of Suwanee because they like a specific vendor, or know the nine-year market is established.

One of those vendors is a beekeeper from Flowery Branch who is popular, Doherty said, because he provides recipes and other uses for honey that customers appreciate.

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

The market will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays through Aug. 7, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays through Oct. 6. 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.

Vendor applications for the Suwanee Farmers Market are available at suwanee.com. For more information, contact Doherty at 770-945-8996.