• Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices
    • Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices

June 12, 2025

Franklin County Times
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries
  • Records
  • Subscribe
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Policies
  • Terms of use
  • Submit a news tip
  • Submit a photo
  • Birth Announcement
  • Birthday announcement
  • Engagement announcement
  • Wedding announcement
  • Submit a Classified Ad
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
    Franklin County Times
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
    Franklin County, News, Russellville, Z - News Main
     By  Alison James Published 
    5:55 pm Tuesday, July 5, 2016

    Market gives farmers avenue to sell homegrown fruits, veggies

    Roger Puckett sells a basket of okra. Puckett brings a wide variety of produce to the market.

    Roger Puckett sells a basket of okra. Puckett brings a wide variety of produce to the market.

    The open pavilion next to the A.W. Todd Centre in Russellville has come to life this summer with the return of the Franklin County Farmers Market. The old wooden tables are piled high with produce for eager market-goers to inspect and purchase.

    Gary Stanford is in his first year as market manager for the Franklin County Farmers Market. A school bus driver during the school year, Stanford “needed something to do, and I enjoy it. I’m from the country; I grew up growing stuff with my parents. I have a little bitty garden – nothing like these folks have.”

    A dozen or so farmers, depending on the day, set up at the market four days a week to entice shoppers with bright red tomatoes, mounds of squashes and beans, little cartons of juicy berries and all manner of fresh produce.

    Minnie Taylor has been coming to the market for the past five years. She sells corn, blackberries, potatoes, squash and cucumbers, along with her specialty – green beans.

    “I really appreciate having a place to do this. It’s extra money for me,” she said. “I enjoy it. I have a lot of fun down here.”

    Taylor looks to the Lord to guide her as she sells produce and shares her testimony with the people she meets. “I pray that he will let his light shine through me, and I think it does,” she said. “I pray on the way down here to send people to buy my produce, and he usually does.”

    For most of the farmers at the market, it’s as much about the people they get to interact with as it is about selling produce. Roger Puckett has been selling there for about ten years, bringing squash, potatoes, okra and other fresh veggies to tempt market-goers.

    “I try to be nice to everybody who comes in and speak to them,” Puckett said.

    At a table overflowing with tomatoes, the farmers market is a family affair. Jason Skidmore and his wife Shannon, as well as their son Jesse, 10, began pitching in to help Jason’s mother Christine Skidmore sell this year’s tomato crop after Jason’s father Jack passed away in May.

    “He had the whole garden planted with 400 tomato plants,” Jason said. “I have a full-time job, but I am dedicated to see this through … We have our hands pretty full.”

    Jason, who works with the county highway department, said his father sold produce at the market for years. In addition to tomatoes, which is their focus, the Skidmores have also grown greens, cabbages, potatoes and cucumbers.

    Market devotees urge others to continue to support the farmers market in Russellville.

    “People have quit farming, and the ones who are still trying to do it and make a living at it – we need to support them,” Stanford said.

    Farmers markets, Taylor added, “are kind of like a dying art … Our young people need to get out and learn to do this, because when us older people are gone, (farmers markets) are going to be gone.”

    The Franklin County Farmers Market is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon.

    Also on Franklin County Times
    White named PCHS volleyball coach
    News, Phil Campbell Bobcats
    White named PCHS volleyball coach
    Bart Moss For the FCT 
    June 11, 2025
    PHIL CAMPBELL Lanice White has been named new head volleyball coach Phil Campbell High School. She takes over for Julianna Taylor, who was head coach ...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    Belgreen Bulldogs, High School Sports, News
    In the community
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 11, 2025
    Let us share your photos. Information should include the names of all people in the photo, the name of the photographer, and a brief explanation of th...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    SOAR preps new UNA students; 2 more scheduled
    Lifestyles, News
    SOAR preps new UNA students; 2 more scheduled
    Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
    June 11, 2025
    Emily McDonald just wanted to catch her breath as she collapsed in a chair the morning of June 3 after taking part in a CPR competition with fellow fu...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Willis signs to play baseball at NWSCC
    News, Russellville Golden Tigers
    Willis signs to play baseball at NWSCC
    Brannon King For the FCT 
    June 11, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE - Ty Willis will be joining the Northwest Shoals Community College Patriots baseball team. The Patriots are led by head coach David Langs...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Faith, fun, and fellowship at downtown Russellville VBS
    Lifestyles, Z - News Main
    Faith, fun, and fellowship at downtown Russellville VBS
    María Camp maria.camp@franklicountytimes.com 
    June 11, 2025
    Children recently sang, laughed, and dashed through clouds of colored powder during a three-day Vacation Bible School at downtown Russellville’s First...
    {"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Franklin County launches first virtual school option
    A: Main, News, Vina Red Devils, ...
    Franklin County launches first virtual school option
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 11, 2025
    VINA - The Franklin County Schools Board of Education has approved the launch of a virtual school option for this fall. Applications for the virtual p...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    She’s finding room for all her passions at TVAA
    Lifestyles, News
    She’s finding room for all her passions at TVAA
    Chelsea Retherford For the FCT 
    June 11, 2025
    When Ashley Finkelstein stepped into the role of executive director at the Tennessee Valley Art Association earlier this year, she said it felt less l...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Tharptown teacher retires following 29-year career
    News, Tharptown Wildcats
    Tharptown teacher retires following 29-year career
    By Maria Camp maria.camp@frankllncountytimes.com 
    June 11, 2025
    THARPTOWN Science teacher Marsha Inmon has retired after 29 years in the classroom, the last 10 of which were spent at Tharptown High School. Her gett...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    ❮❯

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Latest Local News
    SOAR preps new UNA students; 2 more scheduled
    SOAR preps new UNA students; 2 more scheduled
    June 11, 2025
    White named PCHS volleyball coach
    White named PCHS volleyball coach
    June 11, 2025
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    June 11, 2025
    Owner of day care could face additional charges
    June 11, 2025
    Willis signs to play baseball at NWSCC
    Willis signs to play baseball at NWSCC
    June 11, 2025

    More Local News

    Latest Stories
    Health Scores
    June 11, 2025
    Birthdays
    June 11, 2025
    Residency issue hovers over Tuberville’s campaign
    June 11, 2025
    Owner of day care could face additional charges
    June 11, 2025
    Cultura Garden Club members tour 1818 Farm
    Cultura Garden Club members tour 1818 Farm
    June 11, 2025
    Latest Sports
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    June 11, 2025
    White named PCHS volleyball coach
    White named PCHS volleyball coach
    June 11, 2025
    Willis signs to play baseball at NWSCC
    Willis signs to play baseball at NWSCC
    June 11, 2025
    Tharptown teacher retires following 29-year career
    Tharptown teacher retires following 29-year career
    June 11, 2025
    Franklin County launches first virtual school option
    Franklin County launches first virtual school option
    June 11, 2025

    More Sports Stories

    x

    Sections

    • Home
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyles
    • Obits
    • Special Sections
    • Sponsored Content
      • Home
      • News
      • Sports
      • Opinion
      • Lifestyles
      • Obits
      • Special Sections
      • Sponsored Content

    Services

    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise With Us
    • Policies
    • Terms of use
    • Submit a news tip
    • Submit a photo
    • Birth announcement
    • Birthday announcement
    • Engagement announcement
    • Wedding announcement
    • Submit a Classified Ad
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise With Us
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter

    Follow Us

    Copyright

    © 2025, Franklin County Times