Status
Closed
Closing Date
July 2014
Location
Foley, Alabama
QEI
$8M ($12M Project)
Description of QALICB
Foley Farmers and Fishermen Market is located in a severely distressed rural community in Foley, Alabama. Foley has relied on the fishing industry, tourism, and agriculture to grow the economy in Baldwin County. In April 2010, an oil spill from the blowout of the BP Macondo well devastating an already struggling economy and brought the fishing and tourism industries to a halt. Small and family-operated farmers and fishermen have challenges in marketing food even in a farmers and fishermen market. Managing to sell something (fresh vegetables and seafood) that has short and diverse expiration dates is tricky. Gauging the market and knowing how much to grow/catch and bring in is risky. CAFFM’s desire is to aid by developing a Food HUB to pool food together to have one point of distribution. Local food distributors expressed a desire for local food products, and CAFFM set out to be the answer to that request. With so many small farms and boats, the CAFFM Food HUB is an easy way for local fisherman and farmers to ensure sales for their products without as much risk and waste.
Community Benefits
The construction of the Farmers and Fishermen Market will help revitalize the agriculture and fishing industries of Coastal Alabama post oil spill. The Market will assist farmers and fishermen to profit from the skill and ability of their trades and strengthen the community through the creation of a city-owned farmers and fishermen’s market. The addition of the Market increased the community’s access to fresh, healthy and affordable food in an area designated as a USDA Food Desert.