SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — The farmers’ market at Brown Missionary Baptist Church opened last week to steady crowds and raves reviews.
“They’re excited about living healthy and having access to fresh vegetables and fresh fruit,” said Pennie Nelson, who works in the career center at Brown Baptist.
The church started growing food for its food pantry more than a year ago. The farmers’ market grew out of the church’s desire to make sure all of its members and the community had access to healthy food.
“Many of our members live in Tate County in food deserts and in Shelby County in food deserts there,” Nelson said.
Along with the fresh vegetables, there are also jams, pickles and baked goods.
Nelson said the market currently has six vendors, but the church hopes to expand that number to 15.
The market is staffed by the church’s career center and provides several teens paying summer jobs and valuable work experience.
“They have played an extensive role in bringing the produce to the market,” Nelson said. “They planted the seeds, they harvested, they maintained the land, they’ve done it all.”
This is Micah Webb’s second year working in the church’s garden.
“It’s takes a lot of time,” he said. “To be patient and to be outside in that hot sun, it’s a real life lesson.”
Nelson said the church envisions the market as an urban setting where people will find good food, interesting products and learn about healthy living.
The air-conditioned indoor market at Brown Baptist is open Tuesday through Thursday until November.