AT HOME IN HOUSTON COUNTY 2018

community around Creating food
learn, make trades, and form business partnerships.
As the manager of both markets, Daley says she’s closely
involved with each but spends more time involved in the
Perry’s Farmers Market because of the close proximity to
Bodega Brew. Daley’s business partner Lori Freeman is more
involved with the farmers market in Warner Robins. “We
have to fundraise for the market, so we’re fundraising all
the time for both markets to pay people to manage it on the
day of,” said Daley, explaining how involved she is on a daily
basis. “We take debit, credit, and cash. The farmers take cash.
Some have their own credit card machines; many do not. As a
market, we have a credit card machine where people then can
get tokens and we run their credit card, so instead of giving
them cash, we give tokens to shop with at the market.”
By JAMES SIMPSON II
HHJ Staff Writer
While serving as the lead person at her burgeoning café Bodega
Brew in Perry, GA, Jodi Daley has had her hands dipped completely
in the Farmers market scene in both Perry and Warner Robins for
a couple of years now. The International City Farmers Market in
Warner Robins located at Perkins Field at the corner of Watson
Boulevard and Maple Street (Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
has developed into one of the premier venues in Warner Robins.
The Perry Farmers Market, which takes place on Carroll Street in
downtown Perry every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., has
evolved into a favorite local hot spot throughout the community.
The International City Farmers Market in Warner Robins started
in 2010 and is now the largest farmers market in Middle Georgia,
while the Perry Farmers Market started in 2001. “The International
City Farmers Market started about nine years ago and I ran it for
about three years,” said Daley. “Then the City of Perry asked me to
help manage their market and that’s how I got involved with the
Perry Farmers Market.”
Daley took over the Perry’s Farmers Market in 2013. “Both
markets are year-round. There are not enough growers in middle
Georgia so we’re continually looking for people to grow fruits
and vegetables that we’d like to sell,” said Daley. “Even if you’re a
backyard grower, we want them to contact us.”
Both markets are managed by Land to Hand, a non-profit
organization that supports organic, sustainable business practices
through food policy, farmers markets, events, community gardens,
and commercial kitchens. The organization’s main purpose is to
focus on nutrition and local food supplies that will improve health,
reduce poverty, and grow the economy in Central Georgia. Land to
Hand also aims to connect with food producers and consumers to
Both markets are known to carry a mixture of quality
items like seasonal fruits and vegetables, raised and wellproduced
beef, pork, chicken, and lamb, baked goods, bread,
jams and jellies, naturally made body care products such as
bath bombs, and so much more. Both markets hold special
events throughout the year including cooking dinners,
children’s activities, cooking contests, art exhibits, having
local musicians perform, etc. “We are always looking for help
and more volunteers to do programming and educational
things,” said Daley.
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At Home in Houston County
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