The Palm Valley Market recently celebrated it’s one-year anniversary March 28, and in just that short period of time it continues to show growth and added interest from the community.
The market is held at the Palm Valley Community Center located at 148 Canal Blvd. in Ponte Vedra Beach and is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
However, this is not the first version of the Palm Valley Market, as there was another market at the prior to it for about 25 years before it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which left the center without a market for about three years before the Palm Valley Market was started.
“We were asked to bring it back because the community wanted it, and the community center board has been very generous with us and supported us every step of the way,” Dr. Leslie Taylor said.
Taylor along with Lisa Struble took on the resurrection project, which makes it very fitting that the one-year anniversary fell so close to Easter.
One of the big changes is that the market is now inside compared to in the past, which is nice according to Struble, because it allows for the market to go on rain or shine.
Although the market had grown so much in the last year that they have needed to expand outside with vendors on the front lawn of the center to greet the public as they walk in to see the ones inside as well.
According to Taylor, a typical market has abut 11 to 16 vendors, featuring a variety of different products from soaps and lotions to jewelry and food, such as fresh produce, breads and frozen steaks.
“It’s something a little different every week because we do have vendors rotating to make sure we have a wide selection,” Taylor said.
One of those vendors is Bee Pollen Farms, which brings down their homegrown organic in-season produce down to Palm Valley from their farm in Baker County to take part in the market.
“This was our first venture into a market, and now it’s become like a home to us,” said owner Anthony Ahrens.
