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Prefabricated Building for Onslow County, N.C., Farmers Market Nears Completion

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

Jul. 3--JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Pretty soon, people won't have to get wet buying fruits and vegetables at the Onslow County Farmers Market.

Crews are putting the finishing touches on an $86,000 prefabricated building that will be the market's new, permanent home next to the county's cooperative extension office at 4024 Richlands Highway.

"They've got the structure completed," Onslow County Agricultural Extension Agent Jeff Morton said Thursday. "Crews are putting in the bathroom and office and storage area."

Morton also said crews spent Thursday preparing to pave the parking lot.

He expects the Farmers Market Association to announce a grand opening date when they meet Wednesday.

Organizers wanted to open up the market before the building was finished to allow people to use their WIC vouchers, which have a time limit of 60 days.

The market opened June 6, but farmers have been using tents next to the new building until it is finished. The market usually opens in mid-May.

Saturday, four vegetable farmers set up shop along with a flower and plant merchant.

"I think moving into that building will be much better, especially when you consider the weather," said Ed Sanders, chairman of the Farmers Market Association. He operates a farm near Holly Ridge and, for the past eight years, has been selling green beans, cucumbers, potatoes, squash, bell peppers, among other items, at the open market.

"The asphalt really does make everything a little hotter," he said, referring to the parking lot adjacent to the market.

The contractor, Wilmington-based Raysand Building Corp., had some problems with its boom truck, causing the construction delay, Morton said.

"It's really rainy, and they pretty much have to be shut down," Morton said. "A big advantage is there will be an area that's covered for (farmers) and for people shopping. It will eliminate some of the problems with the weather."

Sherrie Criscitiello, who operates a family farm just outside Maysville, agreed with Sanders about the new building.

"If you're inside of a building, you don't have to worry about getting wet when it rains," she said. Besides farm products such as corn and okra, she also sells plants, such as begonias and impatiens. "I think the building will be a little bigger, too, which means more people would be able to market stuff."

The market is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

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Source: The Daily News

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