FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 8, 2010) - This summer, saunter down to the Downtown Farmers Market to discover 3 new vendors joining its variety of local merchants. The Market, located at 2000 West First Street underneath the U.S. 41 Caloosahatchee Bridge in Centennial Park, is open every Thursday year-round from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The vendors include:
Ralph’s Seafood Market Frequent Downtown Farmers’ Market shoppers will be happy to learn that Ralph’s Seafood is back! Ralph’s is well-known for fresh local seafood right off the boats at Fort Myers Beach. They sell sea scallops, salmon and grouper fillets, crab cakes, calamari salad, fresh clams, and various sizes of shrimp. Other items will be added as they come into season.
Paradise Handmade Soap Company This new Downtown Farmers’ Market vendor sells all natural handmade soaps with fragrance oils. Available are natural lip balms, foaming hand soaps, and bath fizzies in addition to few accessory items such as soap nets and all natural loofah sponges.
Gone Nuts! Experience the tasty sensation of all natural peanut butter made with natural honey and cinnamon, or creamy dark or white chocolate peanut butter. Nut lovers will also salivate over their almond and cashew butters.
Shoppers are also reminded that ready-to-eat breakfast and lunch items are available each Thursday through Herbeque BBQ:
Herbeque BBQ Making everything fresh daily, Herbeque BBQ sells breakfast burritos, ribs, pulled pork, Italian sausage, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, turkey legs and sides. Downtown Farmers’ Market patrons savor the smell of the meat cooked on site as they shop the market. Herbeque BBQ takes lunch orders ahead of time and offers catering.
The market, in operation since 1994, currently features vendors offering an assortment of goods including fruits, vegetables, a variety of seafood, baked goods, honey, nuts, cheese, flowers, plants, and soaps.
Call 321-7098 for more information.
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:
Michaelene Beaudin, FMRA, marketmanager@cityftmyers.com or (239) 321-7098
Natalie S. Dunham, FMRA, ndunham@cityftmyers.com or (239) 321-7099