NATCHEZ — Sometimes a change of location can be just what is needed to turn things around.

When the Alcorn State University Extension Service’s farmer’s market moved to its new location at 199 St. Catherine St., it was intended to be a temporary move.

But marketing director Helen D. Brooks said she now hopes that the extension service decides to keep the market at its current location.

“The flow of traffic has doubled — or tripled some days — what it was downtown,” Brooks said.

The farmer’s market was co-housed in the same building as the former Main Street Market, and Brooks said while location served its purpose, the new location is much more visible.

“When you have individuals who are coming in from U.S. 61 North, they have to pass us to get to downtown Natchez,” she said. “We have had people tell us they turned around and came back because they saw us here.”

Likewise, the market gets a lot of foot traffic from the neighborhood, which has two apartment complexes for elderly people, Brooks said.

“They have told us they love it because they can walk in from across the street and get fresh produce,” she said.

There are also other conveniences to consider. While the old location was in an open-air market, the new location is enclosed and has air-conditioning.

The fate of the new location — to stay or go — will be determined later this year, Brooks said.

“We will see at the end of the season how things pan out,” she said.

The market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Producers who want their crops in the market can fill out an application and rent a stall in the building.

The market can be reached at 601-442-4648.