November 22, 2010 - River District Farmers Market Announces Special Day Before Thanksgiving Hours

Fort Myers, Fla. (Nov. 22, 2010) - The River District Farmers' Market in downtown Fort Myers announces special day-before-Thanksgiving hours for the convenience of holiday cooks and shoppers who would like fresh food and handmade products at reasonable prices. The Market, located at 2000 West First Street underneath the U.S. 41 Caloosahatchee Bridge in Centennial Park, is normally open Thursdays - but for the Thanksgiving holiday, it will be open Wednesday, November 24, 7am to 1pm instead.

farm1Good value, compared to rising supermarket costs, is only one of the benefits of shopping the River District Farmers' Market. Holiday cooks are able to purchase fresh, local produce, honey, nuts & nut butters, bread & pastries, seafood and flowers for a unique harvest table, often finding a variety lacking in the typical grocery display. 

"We strive for a good mix of green market products in the River District Farmers' Market," stated LaTasha Armstead, who manages market operations. "Our goal is to give visitors the best shopping experience possible since they have made the efort to think outside the supermarket mindset."

farm2As part of the day-before-Thanksgiving special opening; market visitors will be able to enter a drawing for "A Bear to Love", a chenille teddy bear holding a small companion bear that would make a great holiday gift. No purchase necessary. Need not be present at drawing selection to in. 

Free 2-hour parking is available next to themarket under the Caloosahatchee Bridge. 

Current River District Farmers' Market vendors are listed below; not all vendors will be available during the Wednesday opening: 

  • Al "The Flower Guy" (Fresh cut flowers)
  • Akamai Accents LLC (Accent plants)
  • Bamboo Lady (Gift quality plants)
  • Brittain Produce (Large selection of locally grown vegetables and fruit, some organic)
  • Chavita's Produce (Large selection of vegetables and fruit, especially peppers)
  • Dancing Dragonfly Soap Co. (Natural soap handmade from scratch, plus soap accessories)
  • Edison & Ford Winter Estates Garden Shop (Plants, fresh-picked local fruit, gardening supplies)
  • Green Lady USA (wheat-free/gluten-free bakery products, health & energy beverage, organic skincare)
  • Gulf Coast Tropical Fruit (Large selection of vegetables and fruit)
  • Herbeque BBQ Catering (Ready-to-eat barbeque, breakfast burrito, mouth-watering sides)
  • IFAS Extension (Free Florida gardening information from UF)
  • Irene's Bread & Pastries (Locally-baked specialty breads, pastries, biscotti, cookies, cake)
  • JC's Daily Bread (Eclectic gourmet breads & pastries, baguettes, croissants, cheesecake)
  • Lee Bees (Local natural raw honey, honey soap and beauty products)
  • Magin Cauldron Kettle Corn (Freshly-made kettle corn, funnel cakes, doughnuts)
  • P&J's Nuts R Us (Nuts, edible seeds, dried fruit, granola, granola bars nut confections)
  • Paradise Produce (Large selection of vegetables and fruit, especially tomatoes and citrus; locally grown in season)
  • Pine Island Botanicals Inc. & The Sprout Queen (Locally grown gourmet lettuce, organic greens, vegetables and herbs, tropical plants and edible flowers, sprouts and wheatgrass, herb plants, gardening supplies)
  • The Happy Pickle (Pickles - kosher dills, spicy kosher dills, half sour/new pickles, full sour garlic)
  • Ralph's Island Seafood (Fresh local seafood, including fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, crabcakes, seafood dips)
  • Venus Veggies (USDA certified organic produce and herbs)

Visit www.cityftmyers.com/farmersmarket or call 239-321-7100 for more information.

the River District Farmers' Market, originally called the Downtown Farmers' market, has been in operation since 1994. it currently features vendors offering an assortment of good including fruits, vegetables, a variety of seafood, baked goods, honey, nuts, flower, plants and soaps. 

The River District is the historic commercial district and emerging residential community along the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers. Its geographic boundaries are East First Street (at Seaboard Avenue), the Caloosahatchee River, the Edison Ford Winter Estates and the McGregor Boulevard/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor (ending at Evans Avenue).

The Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency, formerly known as the Downtown Redevelopment Agency, was created in 1984 by the City of Fort Myers Florida to formulate a plan and strategy for the revitalization of the River District. The FMRA has continued to grow and redevelopment districts have been added throughout the city. Now, Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency oversees 14 different redevelopment districts within the Fort Myers city limits. The Fort Myers City Council members sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, oversee the FMRA and its operations. the FMRA office is located at 1400 Jackson St. in the River District. 

Media Contacts
     LaTasha Armstead, FMRA, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 239-321-7100
     Natalie S. Dunham, FMRA, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 239-321-7099