How sweet it is! New farmers market starts Sunday in SweetBay community
PANAMA CITY — Anchored Market Ventures is bringing its fourth farmers market to Bay County.
Market Square at SweetBay will have its grand opening on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Academy Square, 1980 Discovery Loop in Panama City. You can explore the new market's selections while shopping with friends and family and enjoying the live entertainment.
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The market's grand opening will include about 40 local vendors selling fresh produce, home décor, woodwork, handmade jewelry, hand-poured candles, homemade soaps, baked goods, artisan breads, health and wellness items, local honey and much more. In addition, the market will feature live music and food trucks, including Melissa Kusina's Filipino American Cuisine food truck.
Bill Davenport, owner of Anchored Market Ventures, the company that oversees Market Square at SweetBay and three additional farmers markets in Bay County, said he decided to open another market in town to expand shopping locally within the community.
"There's a lot of growth between Panama City and Lynn Haven, and we wanted to bridge the gap in those areas, so having another quality market was the key," Davenport said. "We realized that SweetBay was in a great area to host a farmers market that would be accessible to many people."
Market Square at SweetBay is scheduled to operate every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Labor Day weekend. Davenport said he intends to adjust the hours after Labor Day and continue the market twice a month during the winter months.
Looking into Market Square's future, Davenport hopes the market will eventually move to a larger area while working with developers in phases to expand in the SweetBay community. Davenport said he looks forward to the opportunity for the market to grow with more vendors, food trucks and live music each week.
"I think this will greatly impact the community because it gives another option for people to get locally sourced items," he said. "There's not a lot of Sunday farmers markets in Bay County, so we're bringing something locally that's really in the heart of Panama City and Lynn Haven."
In addition to Market Square at SweetBay, Anchored Market Ventures runs the Panama City Farmers Market, Callaway Farmers Market and Market on the Meadows and operates year-round throughout the week. Davenport described the farmers markets as a huge hit since starting up the initial markets, growing to have about 85 vendors participating each week.
The two original markets formed two years ago with the Panama City Farmers Market held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gateway and McKenzie Park on Harrison Avenue in downtown Panama City, and the Callaway Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every second and fourth Sunday each month at 856 N. Tyndall Parkway in the Anytime Fitness Parking lot.
Last June, the company added Market on the Meadows, which takes place Tuesday evenings from 5-9 p.m. on the Meadows Golf Course at the intersection of Magnolia Beach Road and Delwood Beach Road in Panama City Beach.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: New farmers market in Panama City's SweetBay community to open Sunday
