Punta Gorda Farmers Market faces uncertain future

Concern spread among vendors at the Punta Gorda Farmers Market on Jan. 17 after many said they had heard the downtown market could close after April if the city does not renew its permit. 

Several vendors confirmed they had been discussing the possibility throughout the busy market day. Beekeeper Don Murray said he also had heard the talk while working his Heritage Pointe Pure Honey booth. 

At the market’s information booth, founder Jerry Presseller said he is preparing for the possibility that the city may not extend the farmers market’s permit beyond April 30. Presseller said he has begun looking for alternative locations should the market lose its longtime downtown site. 

The Punta Gorda Farmers Market has operated weekly since 2008, growing into one of the city’s most popular community events. Vendors said the uncertainty surrounding the permit came as a shock, particularly for those who rely heavily on the market. 

Carol Dembrowski, who operates Tropical Island Kettle Korn with her husband Jim “Kernel” Dembrowski, said the market regularly draws between 5,000 and 7,000 visitors each Saturday. 

She said many vendors depend on the farmers market as their primary source of income, while longtime customers treat it as a weekly gathering spot and social hub. 

Over the years, the market has become known for offering a wide variety of goods, including fresh produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, coffee, baked items, pasta, juices and prepared foods. The vendors rotate seasonally, but the market consistently features local farmers and specialty food sellers. 

Presseller said the market also accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program electronic benefit transfer cards, helping lower-income families purchase fresh and healthy food. 

The farmers market also has drawn attention from the tourism sector. American Cruise Lines includes the downtown market as a stop for passengers visiting Punta Gorda, transporting guests by bus from Fishermen’s Village. Allegiant Air also promotes the market in travel materials as a local attraction. 

Punta Gorda City Manager Melissa Reichert confirmed the Downtown Farmers Market Temporary Use Permit has been approved through April. She said City Council has directed staff to move away from annual renewals and instead issue quarterly permits while council members evaluate the market’s long-term status. 

The quarterly renewal allows council flexibility “to make changes in the future, after their discussions, without being locked into a one-year commitment,” Reichert said. 

As of Jan. 19, Presseller said he still had not received confirmation about whether the permit would be extended beyond April 30. 

The issue is expected to be raised during City Council member Greg Julian’s community meetings scheduled for noon and 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Laishley Park Community Room. 

City Council’s workshop agenda for Jan. 20 includes only event planning, but vendors and residents hope the farmers market’s future will soon be addressed formally. 

Presseller founded the nonprofit Downtown Merchants Association and created the farmers market to help revive downtown Punta Gorda after Hurricane Charley in 2004 severely damaged businesses in the area. 

Following his retirement from corporate business, Presseller and his wife Patti operated a deli and art gallery across the street from the market. 

Among the original vendors still participating is Hernandez Family Produce, which began selling at the market the year it opened. Alonzo Hernandez said he was just 11 years old when his family joined the Punta Gorda market 17 years ago. 

Now in his late 20s, Hernandez helps run the family’s produce booths along Taylor Street. Each Saturday, the Hernandez family drives from Plant City, where their farm is located, to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to Punta Gorda shoppers. 

“The sign of a successful market is how long vendors have been there,” Jim Dembrowski said.