WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MAY 4 - MAY 10, 2022 UCW 21
Sustainable Sandhills and Sweet
Valley Ranch are teaming up to bring
an exciting new farmer's market to the
people of the Sandhills.
Sandhills M.A.D.E. Market at Sweet
Valley Ranch will launch on May 7 and
continue every first and third Saturday
through Oct. 15.
M.A.D.E., an acronym for makers,
agriculturalists, designers and entre-
preneurs, is a project of Sustainable
Sandhills, and this will be its first year
in operation.
Up & Coming Weekly spoke with
Jonelle Kimbrough, who has been
executive director of Sustainable
Sandhills for the past three years.
"e market provides a place for
farmers, artisans and crafters to come
together and have an outlet to sell
their products to the local community
while also connecting them with a
consumer base in the absence of a
brick and mortar store."
e market is especially eager to
connect those who sell fresh produce
with those who may have difficulty
finding it.
Sweet Valley Ranch, located off I-95,
is considered to be part of a low-ac-
cess tract area, meaning a significant
portion of the population lives more
than one mile away from a grocery
store or supermarket, making it a
challenge to purchase fresh, affordable
produce.
Kimbrough hopes the market not
only creates access to these goods but
brings exposure to those providing
such a valuable service.
"Local food is healthier, better for
the environment and better for the
economy," she said.
According to their website, Sustain-
able Sandhills is a non-profit orga-
nization dedicated to strengthening
communities by creating resilient
environmental, economic and social
resources for current and future gen-
erations.
e organization aims high with this
new endeavor and hopes it will be big-
ger than the average farmer's market.
"Small businesses are the corner-
stone of the local community, and
they keep money in our community.
When you shop locally, you're giving
money to a family, possibly a neigh-
bor, not another big box store," she
continued.
"We take pride in recruiting ven-
dors of all backgrounds. We support
small businesses owned by women,
veterans and members of the BIPOC
community. While other markets in
the area have a long waitlist to partici-
pate, this market is a great opportunity
for newer vendors who want to get
their names and products out. We
want to be a network for small busi-
ness owners, helping them market and
sell to their local community."
North Carolina is home to around
217 farmer's markets. It is ranked tenth
in the number of farmer's markets in
the United States.
"I would say this market is differ-
ent because we have a unique set of
vendors who possess a wide variety of
skills," Kimbrough told Up & Com-
ing Weekly. "We have vendors that
produce their meat right here in the
Sandhills, apothecaries, just so many
types of artists and crafters who create
a great cross-section of makers and
farmers."
Only goods grown, raised or made
in North Carolina are accepted at the
market. e hands that sell the prod-
ucts are the same ones that made the
product which Kimbrough feels is an
essential aspect of this program.
Another unique feature of the
M.A.D.E. market is its location.
Sweet Valley Ranch, an agro-at-
traction here in Fayetteville, will have
activities for just about everyone on
market days. Dinosaur World, in-
flatables, Go-Karts and fun seasonal
activities will make this market fun for
the whole family. Parents can shop
and enjoy the food trucks while kids
can get out and run around.
"We're looking forward to getting it
open and underway," said Kimbrough
optimistically. "We're excited for
everyone to come out and have a
good time."
e Sweet Valley Ranch is located at
2990 Sunnyside School Road.
For more information about the
market or to be a vendor, visit https://
sustainablesandhills.org/sweetvalley-
ranchmarket/.
EVENT
e new market will provide a place for farm-
ers, artisans and crafters to sell their products.
M.A.D.E market offers fresh
produce, local crafts
by ASHLEY SHIRLEY
ASHLEY SHIRLEY, Staff Writer.
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin-
gweekly.com. 910-484-6200
