Garrot speaks to Kiwanis Club about success of Abbeville Farmers’ Market

The Downtown Abbeville Farmers’ Market has offered guests a homemade, homegrown look at various items for more than three years.
The market, which takes place in Magdalen Square in downtown Abbeville, will be held this Saturday, Aug. 16. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Abbeville Kiwanis Club invited Market Manager Debbie Garrot to speak Tuesday during its weekly meeting. Garrot, who helped get the market off the ground years ago, told the Kiwanians that the effort continues to see a payoff.
“It is still successful after nearly four years,” Garrot said with a smile.
That is not without a few small bumps along the way.
“I have definitely learned what to do and what not to do,” Garrot said.
Tops among what Garrot has taken away from the experience is a new appreciation for those who take part in the market.
“I have a high level of respect for the vendors and what they go through,” Garrot said.
Dozens of vendors will have taken part in the 10 markets scheduled in 2014. Whether they are selling produce, food items are arts and crafts, all will have one thing in common.
“We require that all of the items our vendors sell be homemade, homegrown or home sown,” Garrot said. “We want everything to be authentic.”
That is an idea to which the public is grabbing hold. Farmers markets are becoming increasingly popular, with events popping up all around the country.
Vermilion Parish alone has several, with Delcambre, Erath, Kaplan and Gueydan among the communities also taking part in the growing trend. Garrot said she loves the growth.
“It’s truly great,” Garrot said. “I have helped with some of the markets and it has not hurt ours. Abbeville’s has survived.
“We have people who come from Lafayette after attending the market there.”
The growth in farmers markets has gained attention from government officials, too. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack declared the week of Aug. 3-9 as “National Farmers Market Week.” Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain followed suit in recognizing the impact of the markets.
“It’s important to support your farmers markets because it’s a great way to buy fresh, Louisiana grown fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat products among other things,” Strain said in a press release. “It’s a way to visit with our local producers and support the local economy, not to mention all the added health benefits of buying fresh food.”
Such recognition makes Garrot happy.
“It is great to see our leadership recognize the importance of the farmers markets,” Garrot said.
While it is nice to see recognition from national and state officials, Garrot said the Abbeville market would not continue to grow without support from local leaders.
“This would not work at all without the continued support of (Abbeville) Mayor Mark Piazza and the city council,” Garrot said.
Piazza, who is a Kiwanian, told fellow members Tuesday that the market is certainly worth supporting because of the effort Garrot and others put in to make it work.
“They do a tremendous job,” Piazza said. “It is all volunteer work.”
Work that Garrot said she is glad to do.
“It is a lot of hard work,” Garrot said. “I have really enjoyed it because it is a great project.”
The result is something that allows visitors to be transformed to another place or time.
“The market really just lets people get back to the basics,” Garrot said. “It’s people going back to nature.”