Saturday morning’s at the Market will now stretch to 29th Street S to accommodate more options
BIRMINGHAM, AL (Apr. 16, 2024) — The Market at Pepper Place officially kicked off its 25th season this past weekend. Each Saturday, Alabama farmers, food producers and makers bring truckloads of strawberries, asparagus and other seasonal produce, milk, eggs, honey and cheese, meats and seafood, breads, snacks, and desserts, all grown or made in Alabama.
While the smaller Winter Market has been operating outside in the Dr. Pepper parking lot since January, this season it will expand to 29th Street, with 30 additional vendors, live music on two stages, multiple options for breakfast and an enjoyable community experience.
Located on 2nd Avenue South between 28th and 29th Streets, the Market at Pepper Place has been a popular destination for locals and visitors on Saturday mornings since 2000. Open 7am-Noon, visitors of all ages are welcome. The Market accepts SNAP benefits with Double Bucks matching incentives.
The Market at Pepper Place, which is governed by the 501(c)3 nonprofit Friends of the Market Board (FOM), is also pleased to announce the appointment of its new Board Chair, Valerie Thomas. Thomas, who has served on the FOM Board since 2017, is widely recognized as one of Birmingham’s most enthusiastic ambassadors and civic leaders. As founder and president of The VAL Group, she helps top companies and nonprofits recruit leaders to Birmingham. She is also active in the Birmingham community, serving on the boards of Create Birmingham, Railroad Park, Red Mountain Theatre, UAB Arts Alliance, UAB Women’s Club, and Pepper Place Farmers Market.
“The Market at Pepper Place has long been a shining beacon of the Birmingham community,” offered Thomas. “I look forward to growing its impact as a center of community connection while also expanding our ability to bring fresh food and resources to underserved neighborhoods in our city.”
Thomas takes over as chair of Friends of the Market from its founding chair, Cathy Sloss Jones, who started the Market at Pepper Place nearly twenty-five years ago. Jones will continue to support the Market as Board Chair Emeritus.
“Under Cathy’s leadership, the Market has grown from the seed of an idea to a thriving force for good in our community and region,” said James Beard award-winning restauranteur Frank Stitt. “Her vision of a more equitable food system and tenacious advocacy for both farmers and neighbors will be felt by generations of Alabamians.”
As the Market at Pepper Place enters its 25th year of operations, it has renewed its focus on serving the Birmingham community in three primary ways:
- Creating a permanent market
- Continuing to support an integrated, healthy food system in Birmingham by working with other nonprofit and government leaders
- Strengthening its long-term capacity to serve the city through staff and board development
The Market at Pepper Place relies on sponsorships, grants, and donations to operate and provide its many programs which benefit the community. This year’s presenting sponsor is Medical Properties Trust. Additional major support is provided by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama, the Alabama Tourism Department, Alabama Power, the Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation, and the Jones Family Fund. Grant funding for special projects comes from the Auburn University Hunger Solutions Institute, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, Protective Life and the City of Birmingham.
Longtime corporate sponsors include Balch, Bancography, Bham Now, Bradley, Brasfield & Gorrie, Canopy Insurance, Chesters Inc., Jones Walker, Landscape Workshop, Pepper Place Tenants, Regions, Royal Cup, RSM, ServisFirst, Sloss Real Estate, Stewart Perry and Synovus. Additional partners and supporters can be found on the market’s website.
For more information on The Market at Pepper Place, please visit pepperplacemarket.com.
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