Latest news with #ChampionFarms
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market grand reopening a success
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — The Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market had its grand reopening on Monday. The celebration comes one year after controversy over temporary locations nearly threatened its future. Renovations coming to Toyota Field after Madison City Council decides on plan 'We're here today with a beautiful building that people are going to be proud of for another one hundred years,' said Ray Long, Morgan County Commission Chairman. It's a new beginning where the farmers market started on Second Avenue almost 45 years ago. 'We talk a lot about how every city does a quality of life, and this is certainly something that feeds into that,' said Decatur City Councilman Kyle Pike. As part of the updates to the market, they have a brand-new facility with outdoor cooling and heating vents, which will make shopping there great year-round. Plus, they'll now have space for up to 25 vendors. Huntsville City Schools to offer free meals to children during summer learning activities After complaints and threats of a vendor walkout, the Farmers Market board changed course, keeping the market in the temporary space on Second Avenue until the new market was completed. 'Anytime you build a new market somewhere where people frequent, it can cause a lot of issues logistically,' Pike explained. 'This site was special to a lot of people, and they wanted it to be here, and we wanted to keep it here in downtown Decatur.' Marilyn Champion of Champion Farms told News 19 that it's been a long road for her and her family. Her mother was the first vendor at the market in 1980. 'Glad to be here and see the old customers and making new customers and the support from the community,' Champion said. 'Thank you to everybody that anything to do with this new market going up. My mother would have really appreciated everything that was done.' The grand reopening is the first day as a vendor for Veronica Robinson and Equally 'I absolutely love being at the Decatur Morgan Farmers Market,' said Robinson. 'These folks are supporting local home-grown businesses and supporting the families behind those businesses.' For more information about the Farmers Market, you can visit its website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market is new and improved
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — The Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market is officially back open after controversy over a temporary location threatened the future of the community staple. The vendors have returned to the First Avenue location, selling vegetables, fruits and homemade pickles and honey. Hazel Green High School adding 12 new classrooms with 20,000 square foot addition The vendors say they couldn't be happier. 'Just having it opened so that we can come this spring is very exciting,' said Marilyn Champion, owner of Champion Farms. It's been a long road after controversy over where the vendors could set up until a new market was built. The farmers market board approved a temporary location last spring in a parking lot at the corner of Grant Street. Starstruck: 40 years since the Stars fell on Huntsville The board then attempted to move the vendors again to another location behind the 609 Social Market and Provisions restaurant on Walnut Street. Vendors told News 19 that the market was losing its loyal customers. In turn, some decided not to sell there. After complaints, the board changed course, keeping the vendors and the market in the temporary space on Grant until the new market was completed. 'Once we were able to work through some things that they were unhappy about, and we were unhappy about, we really came to a place where we had great mutual respect for one another,' said Kayte Coats, Treasurer of the board. 'Now we can pick up the phone and call one another and have those conversations and talk through things with kindness and integrity and just work together.' Marilyn Champion of Champion Farms said her mother would be proud of what the market has become. After all, the market started in 1980 after her mother sold walking with a basket of fruit and vegetables and sold them to people who needed it the most. 'I get teary-eyed just being here so I just have a lot of memories of my mother here at the market,' said Champion. 'So. I'm glad to be here.' Coats said the board is looking into expanding the use of the space as a place for local events and weddings. The Farmers Market opens on Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, with a grand opening celebration scheduled for May 10. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
