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Ruskin Farmers Market Needs Vendors

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: March 25, 2009

RUSKIN - It has been about four years since the Ruskin Saturday Market closed, and many in the community want it back.

Two of them are Sandy Council and Fred Jacobsen of the Ruskin Community Development Foundation.

"The Ruskin Community Market will be an open-air farmers market open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays throughout the year," said Jacobsen, foundation president. "It's going to be located across from the Ruskin Post Office, facing the Ruskin Mural."

Scheduled to open Saturday, the market will start out slowly with up to six vendors, said Council, a foundation board member. The site may accommodate about 70 vendors.

"We're waiting for a land development code amendment to allow use of the property to add more," she said. "Right now, we're looking for vendors and hope to build a waiting list."

The goal is to cater to small farmers, backyard growers and people who make homemade arts, crafts and foodstuffs, giving them direct access to customers.

"Our priority will be local, traditionally grown and organic produce," Jacobsen said. "We're going to be very careful and selective about the kind of products we'll offer. This will not be a flea market.

"We want to feature products bred for taste, not travel," he said.

The cost for vendors is $25 per day for a 10-by-10-foot canopy.

Jacobsen said the hope is that the market eventually will create jobs at a time when people really need them.

"And it will be one more reason for people to come to Ruskin," Council said.

Jacobsen said the market will eventually feature an educational component, where visitors can learn about subjects such as rain-barrel making and backyard gardening.

Interested sellers can contact Jacobsen at (813) 298-6028 or call the foundation at (813) 645-6028.

The Ruskin Community Development Foundation is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1994 that works toward the revitalization of downtown Ruskin, develops eco-tourism options, improves coordination of governmental and social services for the community and develops funding sources for community projects.

JOIN THE MARKET

WHAT: Ruskin Saturday Market

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays

COST: $25 per day for a 10-by-10-foot canopy

INFORMATION: Interested sellers can call Fred Jacobsen at (813) 298-6028, or call the Ruskin Community Development Foundation at (813) 645-6028.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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