Macon Magazine

124 maconmagazine.com | APRIL/MAY 2022 M ore is being grown at Middle Georgia's locally- operated farmers markets than the fruits, vegetables and produce on sale. There are more ingredients at work than the flour and spices in cookies, cakes and jams or ones in soaps and candles. In the past decade, entrepreneur Jodi Daley has been at the center of starting and managing farmers markets and helping farmers, artisans and others start and grow their own businesses, often beyond the confines of the popular one- day-a-week markets. Daley is founder of Warner Robins' International City Farmers Market, has managed the Perry Farmers Market and, for a season, was advisor and manager of Macon's Mulberry Market. Her vision has extended beyond such markets to encourage a friendly, informal network among farmers and artisans that benefits them and the public as well. In it all, Daley has championed making healthful foods and products from regional producers available to the public with a special concern for consumers coping with low incomes. IT STARTS WITH FARMERS "For us, everything grew out of what Jodi started here," said Fernando Mendez of the Warner Robins market Daley started in 2010. Located at Watson Boulevard and Maple Street, it operates from 1-6 p.m. Thursdays. Mendez and wife, Margarita, run Crisp County's Marview Farms where they raise organic-fed livestock for the beef, pork, lamb, goat, eggs and fowl they sell at the market "all year, come rain or shine." The couple have won awards for innovative practices. "We credit Jodi with so much as far as our business goes," Mendez said. "She's hard-working and passionate about it and as result went out of her way to invite us here. Jodi always worked to recruit new vendors and their products. People make their living at these markets and Warner Robins is the only one we're at. People kept trying and buying more of our products and telling their friends." Mendez said recognition from the market helped them sell at their farm and through a truck-route where people pick up orders. Daley's work to help others succeed has resulted in a number of vendors beginning brick-and-mortar shops and operations of their own in various communities. While no one — especially Daley — claims she started their businesses or made them happen, the Mendezes and others repeatedly credit her as being a significant part of their beginning, growth and success. Originally from Ohio, Daley settled in Houston County in the late 2000s bringing with her a passion for fresh, locally- sourced food and helping others appreciate and get farmers market items more easily. Her desire to connect farmers, artisans and buyers, and to create community among them, proved beneficial to all. The trend of consumers to increasingly know where their food and goods come from and how they're produced — along with the desire to eat fresher and better foods sourced locally — suits Daley's farmers market ethic. Within the widening community of producers and vendors, Daley helped foster a reliance among them including the use of one another's products to create their own unique goods. Joshua Hess makes artisan soaps and skin care products under his Sassy Alpaca brand. Hess began selling at the International City Market in 2019 and the Perry market in 2021. As business grew, he launched a brick-and-mortar shop at 2371 Ingleside Ave. with a soft opening in February and grand opening in March. He still sells at the markets, does pop-ups and frequents national events. "If it hadn't been for Jodi establishing and working with the farmers markets, my business wouldn't have succeeded," he said. "Her network of local growers and artisans was and continues to be vital to my products' development and success of my brand — and I'm not alone." Hess said since meeting neighbor-vendors, their products have become ingredients in his products. He gets beef tallow from Marview Farms. JG Apiaries supplies honey and beeswax. Citrus fruits come from Greenway Farms, who also grow and sell beef and livestock products and other products originating from their farm at markets. He gets magnolia leaves, rosemary and blueberries from Cindy's Bits and Pieces, and herbs, lemon balm and peppermint leaves from Ernie's Eggs. And the list goes on.

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