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Ann Heard and Jadtrl Heard sell Jadtrl’s Natural Handmade Soap Saturday during the Natchez Farmers Market in Downtown Natchez. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Ann Sternberg sells her handmade jewelry Saturday at the Natchez Farmers Market in Downtown Natchez. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Kathie Blankenstein checks out the Master Gardner’s booth Saturday during the Natchez Farmers Market in Downtown Natchez. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

One of Amy West’s Microgreen vegetables sit on the table available for samples Saturday at the Natchez Farmers Market in Downtown Natchez. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

(Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

By Christian Coffman

NATCHEZ — Beneath the river birch and crape myrtle trees lining South Commerce Street, more than 33 vendors opened the first Downtown Natchez Farmers Market Saturday with an assortment of fresh produce and handmade items.

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell spent most of the morning chatting with the vendors and customers that started filling up at 8 a.m. when the street was blocked off between Main and State streets and the market opened.

“It’s a great day in Natchez,” Grennell said. “It’s been my dream for many years to have an open-air market like we do today.”

Grennell said he wanted to emulate the market in DuPont Circle Market in Washington, D.C., where local people crowd the streets on the weekends to buy local produce.

Local products sold Saturday morning included vegetables, fruits, homemade jams and jellies, freshly baked bread, handcrafted bowls and other arts and crafts.

Farmers market director Eddie Burkes said the first day had an “absolutely wonderful turnout,” with hundreds of locals and out-of-towners showing up to peruse the various goods.

“As long as our locals continue to support this market the way they did today … then this market will continue to grow,” Burkes said.

Burkes said the community experience was phenomenal, with friends and family intermingling among the crowds.

“This has been a tremendous effort from a lot of people. The community should be congratulated,” Burkes said.

Grennell said the vendors were not required to pay a fee to set up their wares and goods.  They only had to bring items that were grown locally or handmade.

“The camaraderie of the people of downtown Natchez, being here together and talking, you can’t beat it,” Grennell said.

Ann Heard and her daughter Jadtrl, who sold hand-made, plant-based oil soaps at the market, said they believe the market will grow with each passing week.

“It’s been a wonderful day here. Everybody’s so nice and friendly,” Ann Heard said.

Alan Borum sold chanterelle mushrooms to customers Saturday. He also sells his mushrooms at the Vidalia Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays.

“They’re unique, they’ve never been domesticated … they can only be found in the wild,” Borum said. “Between the two markets working together, I think they could help each other grow.”

Grennell and Burkes said the only thing they would like to change for the next market would be to make water more available because of the hot, humid weather.

Despite the heat and humidity, not many of the vendors were complaining.

Husband and wife Johnnie and Loraine Griffin, who were selling pieces of original art — wooden bowls and earrings, cedar boxes and acrylic paintings among others — agreed the market was a great addition to downtown Natchez.

“It was better than I expected … we had people that were from out of town come,” Loraine said. “It was very successful.”

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