Join Us Every Saturday
Wire Park
🕘9:00 AM - 1:00PM
Oconee Farmers Market Weekly Newsletter
As we wrap up another wonderful month at the Oconee Farmers Market, we want to take a moment to say thank you. July has brought long summer days, baskets overflowing with fresh produce, beautiful handmade goods, and most importantly, a community that continues to show up and support local. Every Saturday you've helped our farmers, makers, bakers, and artisans do what they love, and for that, we are truly grateful.
As we close out July, we hope you'll join us one more time this weekend before we welcome everything August has in store. There's still plenty of summer to enjoy, and we can't wait to see you at the market!
Community doesn't happen by accident. It's built one conversation, one handshake, one smile, and one Saturday morning at a time. Every time you choose to shop locally, you're helping create a place where farmers can thrive, small businesses can grow, and neighbors become friends.
The Oconee Farmers Market isn't special because of the tents or the vegetables. It's special because of the people who gather beneath them. Whether you're a customer who faithfully shops each week, a child picking out fresh peaches, a volunteer lending a hand, or a vendor sharing the fruits of your labor, you are what makes this market feel like home.
Thank you for choosing to be one of those people. Thank you for believing in local, supporting your neighbors, and helping us build something truly special—one Saturday at a time.
📅 Community Happenings
Looking for more family-friendly fun after your visit to the market? Check out what's happening around our community this week!
🥖 Monday, July 28 Sourdough Social
📍 South Main Brewing
🕕 Hands-On Workshop (3 Hours)
🧀 Includes a complimentary charcuterie board
and one drink voucher for each adult participant.
Learn the art of sourdough baking and create a loaf to take home!
🎟️ Purchase tickets in advance.
🎬 Monday, July 28 & Wednesday, July 30 2026
Summer Kid Show Series – David
📍 University 16 Cinemas
🎟️ Admission: Only $2 per person
🍿 Kid Show Combo (Popcorn, Drink & Candy): $8
🎟️ Purchase tickets in advance.
🧘 Friday, July 31 Chair Yoga
📍 Bishop Community Center
💲 $15 per person (Cash, Venmo, or Zelle)
💧 Chairs are provided—please bring water.
🪷 Hosted by The Wandering Yogi.
🧜 Friday, July 31 – Sunday, August 9
Disney's The Little Mermaid
📍 The Stage Oconee
🎭 Opening Weekend:
🕖 Friday, July 31: 7:00 PM
🕑 Saturday, August 1: 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
🕑 Sunday, August 2: 2:00 PM
🎭 Second Weekend:
🕖 Friday, August 7: 7:00 PM
🕑 Saturday, August 8: 2:00 PM
(Sensory & Family-Friendly Performance) & 7:00 PM
🕑 Sunday, August 9: 2:00 PM
🎟️ Purchase tickets in advance.
We love sharing events that bring our community together. We hope you'll enjoy all that Oconee County and the surrounding area have to offer this summer!
Shop Local. Support Local.
Thank you for shopping local and supporting the Oconee Farmers Market. We wish you and your family a safe, joyful, and blessed weekend!
We'll see you at the market!
📍 Wire Park – Watkinsville
🕘 Market Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Farm to Table Dinner – August 16
Farm-to-Table Dinner – Early Bird Tickets Are On Sale! 🍽️
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the best of Oconee County's farms, food, and community at our 2026 Farm-to-Table Dinner featuring Chef José Zambrano!
Early Bird Tickets are just $65 through August 9. Beginning August 10, tickets increase to $75, including at the door.
👧 Children 7 & under eat FREE
🧒 Children ages 8–12 are just $30
This special evening will feature a delicious farm-fresh meal, beautiful surroundings, and an opportunity to support our local farmers and the Oconee Farmers Market.
📅 Sunday, August 16, 2026
📍 Historic Thomas Cotton Gin
⏰ Doors Open: 5:00 PM | Dinner: 5:30–7:30 PM
🎟️ Scan the QR code on the flyer to purchase your tickets today, or click on the link below—we can't wait to share this special evening with you!
Featured Menu
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Shrimp & Grits
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Chicken
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Beef with Peach & Bleu Cheese
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Roasted Potatoes
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Green Beans
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Collard Greens
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Salad
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Rolls
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Desserts
Carol's Corner
Frank Fleming's family purchased the 500-acre farm in the 1980s, and today it remains the largest actively farmed tract in Clarke County. As we drove through the property, history and agriculture seemed to exist side by side. An old antebellum home once stood on the land, along with a historic cemetery—a reminder that this farm has been part of our community for generations.
The care that goes into every crop is remarkable. Towering pecan trees that have produced for decades stand alongside three newer orchards planted for the future—Ellis, Avalon, and McMillan varieties. Frank also maintains both established and newly planted peach orchards, carefully pruning each tree to keep them lower to the ground for safer harvesting and healthier fruit.
Frank has also invested in state-of-the-art equipment to process and package his pecans, allowing him to provide customers with the highest quality product while maintaining the freshness and flavor his farm is known for.
The farm is also home to five lakes, with the largest covering 10 acres. This lake serves as the primary water source for irrigating the crops throughout the growing season. Standing beside it, I couldn't help but think about how much planning and care goes into producing the fresh fruits and vegetables we sometimes take for granted. Every tomato, ear of corn, peach, and watermelon depends on that dependable water source during Georgia's long, hot summers.
Throughout the season, The Grove brings an incredible variety of fresh produce to the market, including sweet corn, tender okra, vine-ripened tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, squash, three delicious varieties of peaches, and beautiful sunflowers that brighten any home.
If you're a fig lover, you're in luck! Frank also grows two exceptional varieties of figs—Chicago Hardy and Celeste.
And I have to say... the watermelon I purchased last week may have been the sweetest I've ever tasted! The sweet corn was perfectly crisp, the peaches were juicy and full of flavor, and the cantaloupe was just as delicious. If you haven't stopped by The Grove lately, you're missing out on some of the best flavors of summer.
Walking through the farm reminded me that farming isn't simply a profession—it's a way of life. It's early mornings, long days in the Georgia heat, unpredictable weather, constant problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to growing the highest-quality food possible.
The next time you stop by The Grove's booth, take a moment to thank Frank and Kathleen. Every peach, tomato, ear of corn, sunflower, and watermelon represents years of knowledge, countless hours of hard work, and a deep love for the land.
We're incredibly grateful they're part of the Oconee Farmers Market family.
—Carol
🌿 Did You Know?
Before many grocery store vegetables ever reach the shelf, they've traveled an average of 1,500 miles. By the time they arrive, they've often spent days—or even weeks—in trucks, warehouses, and storage.
At the Oconee Farmers Market, it's a different story.
Many of our farmers harvest their produce the day before—or even the morning of—the market. Most of what you'll find has traveled less than 50 miles from the farm to your table.
That means sweeter tomatoes, crisper cucumbers, fresher corn, and produce picked when it's naturally ripe—not before.
When you shop local, you're not just buying food. You're buying freshness, supporting your neighbors, and investing in the future of local agriculture.
🥬 Produce Spotlight: Okra
Fresh from the fields and full of Southern flavor, okra is one of summer's most versatile vegetables!
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🥶 Store it right: Keep okra in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3–5 days for the best flavor and texture.
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🍳 Cook it your way: Delicious fried, roasted, grilled, sautéed, or added to soups and gumbo.
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💚 Good for you: Rich in fiber and a good source of Vitamins C and K.
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❄️ Freeze for later: Slice, blanch, and freeze to enjoy fresh summer flavor all year long.
Ask one of our farmers for their favorite way to prepare okra—you just might discover a new family favorite! 🌿
Behind Every Harvest Is a Story
One of my favorite parts of being Market Director is getting to know the people
behind the booths. This week, Mandy and I had the privilege of touring The Grove,
and I came away with an even deeper appreciation for what it takes to bring fresh
produce to our market every Saturday.
When you visit The Grove's booth, you're likely greeted by Kathleen's warm smile
while Frank is busy making sure the freshest produce is available for customers.
It's easy to admire the beautiful fruits and vegetables on the table, but what
many don't realize is the lifetime of hard work that stands behind every harvest.
Join Us This Saturday -
July 25
*Vendors*
*This list is subject to change with or without notice
