About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 2025)
C2 | THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025 The Tatonton Allessenger www.msgrnews.com Farmer’s Market returns to Harmony Crossing Skyla Morris skyla@msgrnews.com Since 2007, the Lake Oconee Farmer’s Market at Harmony Crossing has been an important part of Eatonton’s summer and fall seasons. It currently boasts more than 40 vendors who participate each week from May to December. During the summer, from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday until Sept. 13, it allows local farmers, artists, and small busi nesses to showcase and sell their crops, works, and wares. Though Ashley Beresch has worked for only four years in her current role as manager of the Lake Oconee Farmer’s Market, she explained it has been a constant presence in the area for more than 18 years. “The Farmer’s Market has been around since the [Harmony Crossing] shopping center began,” Beresch said. “They wanted to have a place for farmers and makers in the area to come set up, and it was kind of a passion project of the developer.” According to Beresch, the market provides a wide variety of options, including meats, baked goods, and arts and crafts. Many vendors travel from surrounding counties to participate in the weekly event. “You could do all your grocery shopping at the market, which I think is pretty amazing,” Beresch said. “We prioritize local and regional growers.” Recently, Beresch has found a “younger gener ation” of vendors intro ducing their businesses to the farmer’s market. She said she believes their arrival has made the most significant change to the weekly occasion. “Younger people are now growing their food or raising animals, doing more craft work, and bringing it to the market,” Beresch said. “I think it’s been great to see a new generation take that up and bring it to the market, and we now have people raising dairy cows again and bringing that back to Eatonton,” which years ago was acknowledged as the state’s dairy capital. Organic plants, often consisting of vegetables and fresh flowers also are among the more popular items sold by vendors. CO SKYLA MORRIS/Staff Grace Caricofe, owner of Gracefully Baked Co., is in her second year selling sourdough products as a Lake Oconee Farmer's Market vendor. She credits the market for helping her business's rapid success. al ReStore. Habitat for Humanity of Putnam ReStore Hours Thursday: 10am - 4pm Eatonton’s deLacy Leverette owns The Leaf & Bell Flower Farm. She converted her passion for gardening into a full-time business last year, but this season marks her first as a Lake Oconee Farmer’s Market vendor. “I think it’s been very well-received, and people have said that it was needed in our community, so that’s nice,” Leverette said. She explained she got the idea to start her busi ness about two years ago after her husband started her flower garden. She then decided she needed to follow her passion for work. Leverette said she believes joining the farm er’s market has greatly helped her business grow. Since becoming a vendor, she has found that sunflowers, dahlias, and pincushions are the most popular with customers. “[Being a vendor] is a great way to interact with the community and get new faces, new friends,” Leverette said. “They can tell us what they want, so we can take that back home, give it some thought, and implement it into our business plan.” Similarly, Grace Caricofe owns Gracefully Baked Co., which she started early last year. She sells various baked sourdough goods and is in her second year as a market vendor. She found her original sourdough, English muffins, and cheddar or jalapeno loaves are most popular among her customers. “[The market] has been the biggest influence on my business since opening,” Caricofe stated. “They supported me through thick and thin, and it has just blossomed since.” Caricofe said she believes the success of her market booth helped Gracefully Baked to grow tremendously over just a year and led to her opening a Lake Oconee storefront. Regardless, Caricofe looks forward to continuing creating and selling the products she loves at the farmer’s market, too. “My favorite thing about the market is seeing customers, because when I’m baking, I’m by myself. So, getting to see feed- back and people loving the product is my favorite part,” Caricofe said. “I’ve created a commu nity with business owners that I love to see, so I have lots of friends and acquaintances at the market, and I love seeing more new people come in and help.” deLacy Leverette, owner of The Leaf and Bell Flower Farm of Eatonton, is one of the many local vendors at the Lake Oconee Farmer's Market. This is her first year selling her organic flowers at the event. DONNA BRADEY/ Contributed Slt4i! Restore your donation helps a family build a strong foundation for the future. Friday: 10am-4pm Saturday: 10am -4pm putnamcountyhabitat.org 706-991-1600 - NEW LOCATION - 866 Harmony Road Eatonton, GA 31024 Bring this ad with you and receive an additional 10% off your purchase! Scan to Request a Home Pickup Shop. Donate. Volunteer. Johnson continues Reynolds selling streak Reynolds Lake Oconee Properties (RLOP) has announced Traci Johnson as its Sales Executive of the Month for May. This consistent, consec utive recognition in 2025, including RLOP Sales Executive of the Month since the first of the year, and Sales Executive of the Year titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024, solidifies Johnson’s status as a top performer in the Reynolds Lake Oconee real estate market. While Johnson’s consis tent success is a testament to her dedication and expertise, it mirrors a broader trend of consis tent, thriving demand for properties at Reynolds Lake Oconee. “Traci’s achievements are remarkable, and they are a clear indicator of the service she provides her clients,” RLOP Vice President of Sales and Broker in Charge Karen Saltzbart said. “Her deep understanding of the community, partnered with an unwavering commitment to her clients, allows Traci to seamlessly connect indi viduals with their dream properties in a market currently experiencing incredible growth.” Johnson’s accomplish ments speak volumes. She Traci Johnson BANK or MADISON was named Rookie of the Year in 2019, is a Million Dollar Club Member, and a consistently top producer in the Lake Oconee area. Beyond her professional triumphs, Johnson is a dedicated board member of the Lake Country Board of Realtors and an active advisory board member for Make-A-Wish Georgia, embodying a spirit of community and giving back to her community. — Contributed The Plaza thanks PGH for scholarship support CONTRIBUTED Taylor Surman, marketing director for The Plaza Arts Center (second from left), accepts a donation from representatives from Putnam General Hospital, which allowed The Plaza to offer scholarships to attending summer camps there. COMMITMENT: HERE. NOW. ALWAYS. Contact us for your Lot and Construction Loans! Member FDIC COME IN AND MEET THE LAKE TEAM Lake Country Loan Production Office 1041 Founders Row Greensboro, GA 30642 (762) 445-1133 Main Office 133 N. Main St., Madison (706) 342-1953 Eatonton Rd Branch 1540 Eatonton Rd., Madison (706) 342-1953 Bank of Social Circle A Division of Bank of Madison 1281 N. 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