The sun on your shoulders. Green, lush grass under your feet. Firing up the grill after enjoying longer days outdoors. Summer ushers in a season where a wide variety of produce is at its best. Here in Jackson County, we have an abundance of ways to savor the freshest and sunniest season of the year with farmers markets, farm-to-table eateries, roadside stands, and more – all while supporting local businesses that are integral parts of our community.
Farmers Markets
The real OG of al fresco foraging is hands down farmers markets. Marianna City Farmers Market encompasses the heart of our local farmers and their products on Saturdays from 7 AM to noon from May to July and 8 AM to noon from August to April. You’ll be able to greet the growers while sampling the fruits of their labor before buying items you feel good about consuming. Since 1976, Marianna City Farmers Market is the spot for procuring the best and freshest locally grown tastes of the season and other homemade items like jellies and baked goods.
Farm-to-Table Offerings
There’s practically nothing a cold beer from Southern Fields Brewing on a hot day can’t fix. Southern Fields Brewing makes all beer and hard seltzers on its family-friendly property for the most pleasant buzz with down home roots. Toast the day with a Christoff Ferry (blueberry blonde ale) or Greener Pastures (passion fruit hazy IPA), and don’t forget to tag your golden hour pics with #NoFarmsNoBeer.
Creameries and Other Treats
Few things go together more perfectly than ice cream and sunshine. To enjoy a treat that transcends time, check out Southern Craft Creamery. All the flavors – from the fundamental sweet cream to fancier dried plum and rum or candied bacon are made from non-homogenized milk right from their farm – and you’ll taste the homespun difference in every bite. Before you leave, stop by Southern Craft Creamery Market right next door for carefully curated offerings of various sundries, from sourdoughs to milk and treats – all made from farmers and artisans who have a passion for using local ingredients and conducting business with integrity.
Ocheesee Creamery is a three-generation dairy farm that offers an agricultural experience with each scoop. Relish each drippy lick of your cream cone as you wander their farm, admiring the pasturing cows. You can also pick up fresh milk, butter, cream (and, of course, more ice cream) to take with you.
You literally can’t get much sweeter or purer than honey. Smiley B Farms is synonymous in the area for raw and unfiltered tupelo honey harvested from trees along the wetlands of North Florida, providing an authentic taste of town to top a variety of foods. Smiley B Farms also produces wildflower honey after tupelo season.
Millie Bee Farms produces light amber wildflower honey to add another flavor to your honey palate (an another option for drizzling on your favorite flaky biscuits or fluffy pancakes!). Their expert staff also makes it easy to learn about all things beekeeping if you’re interested in the hobby.
U-Picks
While calling ahead to check availability is always encouraged, our u-pick season is an absolute thrill for the whole family, no matter what you’re in the mood to pull. Blue Acres Berries has four different Rabbiteye varieties of berries to fill your bucket. Meanwhile, Jackson Farms features nutrient-dense crops of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and other veggies to harvest yourself for a scrumptious summertime meal or snack.
If you’d prefer to have the connection of picking up your produce directly from the farm without actually doing the picking, Jackson Farms and Spanish Trail Farms have incredibly fresh, pre-filled buckets of sweet corn, new potatoes, okra, and other seasonal delights for you to choose from.
Roadside Stands
Stopping at a roadside stand practically guarantees the warm-and-fuzzies from supporting our small and family-run businesses with the added benefit of scoring a satisfying snack or sweet. For Florida-focused finds like Mayhaw jelly, alligator jerky, and citrus, make a pitstop at Barfield Country Store. You’ll find that little pick-me-up you didn’t know you needed, from boiled peanuts to the cutest souvenirs, knickknacks, and other curious items.
Kountry Candy Store is where to pull over when your sweet tooth strikes on the way to the beach. Its all-wood exterior sets the tone for the classic candy shop experience, enveloping all five senses as soon as you step inside. There’s a sugary confection made in-house for everyone, whether your sweet tooth has a salty side (may we suggest some chocolate covered pretzels), a richer side (fudge), or a nuttier side (pecan pralines or almond clusters). Customers also rave about their milkshakes and boiled peanuts.
Embrace Endless Summer in Jackson County
Whether it’s with a Saturday morning stroll through the farmers market, a stop at a U-pick for some family horticultural fun, or a food truck picnic meal, the opportunities to get the freshest possible items while supporting our area’s deeply local businesses are as endless as the sunshine and good times waiting for you in Jackson County this summer. Plan your sweet escape to Jackson County by clicking here today.