Father’s Day at the farmer’s market just makes sense. While taking Mom to a nice brunch or dinner is customary, dads usually have more of a “Let’s stay home and grill out,” appetite. With markets open Saturday in Fernandina and Yulee, shopping for a locally harvested satiable meal and great gift ideas can be full of family fun, too.
Open every Saturday in historic Fernandina, you can find Angus beef and pork from South Georgia, fresh duck or chicken, wild caught shrimp, and even scallops and Alaskan salmon. Owners Danny and Sandra Durrence have a fourth generation family owned and operated farm. They have four poultry houses, a road-side vegetable stand, and the JD Beef cattle operation in Glennville, about halfway between Jesup and Statesboro, Georgia. They raise all-natural cattle from birth to harvest in a humane environment, and their pigs are pastured with plenty of room to roam. A Patient Journey Farm is a Yulee farm raising chickens and ducks. They also bring eggs to the market when available. Heather and Tom are working to live sustainable off of their land. If you want a true taste of farm to table, then you should try their fresh poultry. Chesser Seafood has large shrimp caught wild off our coastline, that are sold fresh, not frozen. If you want them with the heads off, they will do that for you for free while you wait. Fernandina is known as “The birthplace of the modern shrimping industry” and once you try a local shrimp, you will never purchase a grocery store ring of farm raised shrimp again. Be sure to check out the Spice Pantry for spices and rubs, Bacons Select Produce for the fixings to a beautiful salad, and Ferras Bakery for some delicious garlic sticks. If you are looking for sweets for your dad, look no further than Chef Ce’tia’s booth. With options like an apple stuffed with cheesecake, a slice of strawberry lemonade pound cake, vanilla pudding cake, or a key berry crunch, you can’t go wrong.
Osborne Ranch Soap Company is a Fernandina farm that sells 100% hand-crafted milk, plant, or vegan based skin care products. Sherri makes lotions, soaps, bath bombs, scrubs, and she even grows loofahs. She also has beard oils and shaving products in dad-friendly scents.
Bruce Beville and the Laid Back band will be performing your favorite oldies and toe-tapping tunes, while the Amelia Island Dance Festival will have demonstrations of tap dancing, ballroom, Dance Trance, and more. This is a great opportunity to learn more about this wonderful, not-for-profit festival that will be held this September. The festival will be offering a special performance featuring John Manzari: The First Set, on July 13, 2023. This high-energy show has tap dance as the focal point set to live music by jazz quartet.
The market is open from 9:00 a.m until 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. With something for every member of the family, your well-behaved and leashed pets are welcome, too.
