Section Farm Market
Location: Section, AL
Type: Mennonite-owned farmers’ market
Products and services offered: seasonal produce, homemade and locally grown products including sorghum syrup, jams and jellies, baked goods and sauerkraut.
Written by: Breanne Brazeale
Photographed by: Breanne Brazeale and Adam Stephens
The Section Farm Market is entering its third growing season providing fresh food and produce to Section and the surrounding communities in northeast Alabama. It is open seasonally spring through fall, is owned and operated by the local Mennonite Community.
*Pictured is the market’s building exterior in Section, AL.
People travel from all over DeKalb and Cherokee counties to come to the Section Market. When we arrived, almost 30 minutes before they opened and on a Saturday in mid-November, a few weeks before the market closed for the winter season, the parking lot had already begun to fill with customers eager to purchase fresh produce and homemade goods.
The market offers a huge variety of fruits and vegetables grown in Section, AL. It is important to arrive early for the freshest produce and best selection, as the market is very popular.
*Pictured above is some of the garden bounty sold at the farm market, including a rainbow of heirloom tomatoes. Produce will vary seasonally according to your time of visit.
Both traditionally grown and naturally grown produce is available, denoted by the color of the price tags labeling each item. Blue labeled products are grown with only natural pest control and fertilizers, while white labeled products allow for the use of chemical sprays and fertilizers to account for pest pressure and other growing challenges.
*Above is a sign explaining the Section Market’s growing and labeling system for their produce.
In addition to seasonal fruit and vegetables, there are homemade and handcrafted products available including jams, jellies and pickles. Homemade food items are made either at the community in Section, AL, or with the help and cooperation of their neighboring community in Tennessee.
*Shown above are the rows of brightly colored jams, jellies, pickles, and homemade, naturally fermented sauerkraut for sale at the Section Farm Market.
While I was there, I bought a small jar of sorghum syrup in addition to the gorgeous white sweet potatoes, collards I selected, and brought it home to add to baked goods, including some homemade granola bars that my kiddos gobbled up. The sorghum cane was grown on the Section, AL farm, and processed on the farm in their Tennessee community.
*Above, jars of sorghum for sale.
Everything at the market, including the cornmeal and grits (when available) is fairly priced, making it easier for the community to afford healthy and high-quality food and produce. I can’t wait to return this growing season.
*Photo above is the sign as you approach the farm market.
Outside the market at the time of our visit, a group of local farmers were operating a mobile grist meal, grinding fresh cornmeal and grits to sell. They are not strictly a part of the Section Farm Market, but work in cooperation with the folks there, who allow them to bring their mill to market to provide even more high-quality food to their customers.
*Pictured above is the mill, grinding whole dent corn into cornmeal and coarser grits.
The mill belongs to Bucksnort Millers, and I primarily spoke to Kenneth Hastings. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the non-GMO and heirloom varieties of corn they were grinding, some of which included Cherokee White Eagle, Bloody Butcher, and Truckers Favorite. Mr. Hastings, along with the other farmers and millers who comprise Bucksnort Millers are working to preserve the art of historic grist milling and are thrilled to be able to offer the patrons of the Section Farm Market locally grown and ground cornmeal, grits and more.
*The whole corn prior to milling, and Dr. Koe and myself speaking with Kenneth and purchasing purple grits and cornmeal while at the Section Farm Market last November.
It is important to note that because the Section Market is owned and operated by the Section Mennonite community, they have respectfully asked that those attending the market are cognizant of their religious beliefs and dress in conservative attire when visiting. The market is closed Wednesdays and Sundays. More information about current seasonal hours can be found by visiting the market at:
1505 Hwy 71
Section, AL 35771