Forsyth Farmers’ Market – a community-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting area farmers and expanding access to fresh, local food – is delighted to announce a special National Farmers’ Market Week Celebration on Saturday, August 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the south end of Forsyth Park. In addition, Forsyth Farmers’ Market will officially announce the winner of the inaugural Market Dog competition, presented in collaboration with Service Brewing Co.

 This annual celebration will highlight the vital role that small farms and farmers’ markets play in America’s national and local food systems. The National Farmers’ Market Week festivities will include live music, children’s activities, a chef-led demonstration from Farm Hospitality Group (including Common Thread and Flora & Fauna) as well as Forsyth Farmers Market giveaways.

 At 10 a.m., local Forsyth Farmers’ Market vendors – including Swampy Appleseed owner Ancil Jacques, who has been a Forsyth Farmers’ Market vendor since 2015, and Matthew Foreman of Fun Guy Farms in Savannah – will speak about their history and experiences at the market. Forsyth Farmers’ Market will also welcome Jason Pagliaro, Senior Director of the City of Savannah’s Office of Special Events, Film and Tourism, as well as Healthy Savannah Executive Director Armand Turner and Healthy Savannah Nutrition Manager Ruby Castro, who will talk about the importance of fresh, locally grown food to our community.

 Forsyth Farmers’ Market’s new specialty Market Dog Brew beer can featuring the Market Dog Competition winner will be revealed at the Market Dog Brew Reveal Celebration, which is free and open to the public, on the evening of Friday, August 22, at Service Brewing Co., located at 574 Indian St. in Savannah, Ga. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the winning Market Dog and to sample the new Market Dog Brew

“We are deeply grateful to all of the Market Dog participants as well as their families, friends and supporters,” said Cherie Trice, Forsyth Farmers’ Market Interim Executive Director. “It was a dog-gone stiff competition, right up until the end. We are paws-it-tively thrilled that funds raised from this event will help our efforts to support local farmers and increase fresh-food access to our community.”

Earlier this summer, community members were invited to nominate and vote for their favorite canine to be named Market Dog and be featured on the Market Dog Brew can. Each vote was a $1 donation to the Forsyth Farmers’ Market. Proceeds from the competition benefit Forsyth Farmers’ Market’s mission to promote understanding and participation in the local food system through the popular Saturday farmers’ market in Forsyth Park and community-based education programs like 912 Food Farmacy. The Market Dog competition exceeded the nonprofit organization’s $10,000 fundraising goal. 

"We would like to extend a special thanks to Service Brewing for partnering with Forsyth Farmers’ Market on the Market Dog fundraiser,” added Asia Harold, Forsyth Farmers’ Market Director of Community Engagement and Market Manager. “They have been incredibly generous to us for this event, as they always are for our community.”

Please visit forsythfarmersmarket.com and follow Forsyth Farmers’ Market on Facebook and Instagram for the latest details on the National Farmers’ Market Week celebration and the Market Dog Reveal Celebration.