March 22, 2012 - The Gabber

Gulfport Fresh Market
Sets Records
GULFPORT- The Gulfport Tuesday
Fresh Market has set a new record in
the number of vendors participating
each week. The Fresh Market is
now in its sixth year of operations,
beginning in 2006 with a handful
of vendors. Now in the height of
“snowbird season,” the Fresh Market
regularly features over 60 vendor
booths with a wide variety of choices,
making it one of the largest weekly
open-air markets in Tampa Bay.
Attendance at the Market has also
reached record numbers during the
“snowbird” season, with over 3,000
visitors each Tuesday swelling the
sidewalks of Beach Blvd.
Fresh produce is a mainstay at
the Market, including locally grown
and family-farmed offerings. Thirty
other vendors offer gourmet, artisan,
ethnic, fresh and prepared foods of
all sorts. The line-up also includes
garden plants and fresh flowers,
hand-made bath and body products,
pet treats, hand-made jewelry and
other crafts. Services offered during
the Market include expert knife and
tool sharpening and chair massage.
A number of artists and artisans
typically work on their own creations
during the event while market-goers
watch. Local musician entertain in
two separate locations during the
Market.
Market-goers typically visit
Gulfport’s other attractions on
Market days, including the many
shops and restaurants in and near
the Fresh Market area in Gulfport’s
Waterfront District. Parking is free
and all businesses in the Waterfront
village are independently owned and
operated.
While most other markets in
Florida close for the summer, the
Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market is a
year-round event with a wide array
of independent “Mom and Pop” shops
opening for business on the streets
once a week. For more information,
contact Daniel Hodge at dan@igc.org
or visit www.gulfportma.com.
•••
Featuring the Tasmania Region of Australia
Tasmania is the ‘Island State’ of the ‘Island Continent’, and the most southerly
of the eight states of Australia. It lies 150 miles off the coast of Victoria.
Tasmania’s choice of grape varieties is closer to those of New Zealand than
Australia, reflecting the cool maritime climate. Sauvignon Blanc is increasing
year by year, as are Riesling and Pinot Gris. Tasmania’s red varieties, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, remain essentially static, far behind
the rest. Hardly any Shiraz is grown, further emphasizing the differences
between Tasmania and the rest of Australia.
Some of the finer wines from Tasmania include: Jansz Premium Cuvee Brut,
Champagne Blend, Bay of Fires Sparkling Tasmanian Cuvee Brut, Bay of
Fires Arras Late Disgorged Sparkling Champagne, Ninth Island Pinot Noir,
Josef Chromy Pepik Pinot Noir - Chardonnay Sparkling, Tamar Ridge Devils
Corner Pinot Noir,
Gabber March 22 - March 28, 2012 47