A change is coming to the Jacksonville Farmer’s Market as former market founder and owner Ken Snoke retakes the reigns of the market he founded in 2010. This August, Chad & Lea Worcester, who purchased the farmers market from Ken in 2013, sold the market back to him. Ken will assume full management of the market on September 4 as Chad & Lea move on to other life projects. When Chad & Lea took over market operations in 2013, there were between 20-25 booths. Today, more than 65 vendors can be found on the grounds of the Courthouse each Sunday from 10:00am-2:00pm, offering a unique variety of fresh produce, seafood, bakery items to artisan crafts.

Chad Worcester says, “This is the fourth year Lea and I have been running the market. It’s grown considerably and we’re glad to have been a part of the expansion. The city has been a major supporter of our efforts, for which we are most thankful. But it’s time to pass the baton.”

The Worcester’s say, “There’s no better person to continue our work than Ken Snoke. Our views and his align very well regarding the structure and allure of the market. We also know he has some great ideas on how to improve the overall market experience.”

In 2017, Snoke will rename the market the “Jacksonville Sunday Market,” which will reopen on June 4, 2017.

Looking back, Ken Snoke recalls, “I started the Jacksonville Farmers Market at the urging of several Jacksonville citizens. That first year, we had 6-12 vendors on the grass at the courthouse… it was basically a labor of love and ran in the red for the first two years!”

Ken says he’s thankful for the initial support, “from community members who were instrumental in helping get the market rolling, including Whit & Joe Parker, Terry Erdmann & Paula Block, David & Constance Jesser, Mel & Brooke Ashland, and Clara Wendt to name a few.” Ken fondly recalls Paula and Terry Erdmann and others who’d come early on market days to help vendors set up their tents and stalls and haul goods to and from cars for setup and breakdown.

During the first few years of running the blossoming market, Ken says “things grew slowly, and in year three it increased in size to 25-30 members. Sometime during that year Chad & Lea, and their daughter Elizabeth, and son-in-law, Nick, began to manage the market when my career forced me to leave Jacksonville for a two-year job stint in San Luis Obispo.”

While Snoke was away from Jacksonville, the Worcester family moved market days from Saturdays to Sundays, growing vendor and customer participation to around 70 vendors. “Adding weekly music on the courthouse steps was one of the excellent additions they made,” says Ken.

Ken Snoke is making one immediate change to help increase fresh produce at the market by sending a midweek email to notify customers of available produce. “This is a great way to be reminded of what’s available at the market on Sunday so you can plan your meals and shopping accordingly,” Ken says. For customers who wish to be placed on the notification list, please email Ken Snoke at ken@jvillemarket.com. “I’m all ears when it comes to ideas for improving the market!”