2023 has been a remarkable year and we’re proud to share some of the highlights with you in this report. Our Market staff and crew, Board members, vendors and supporters have put in extra effort this year to keep things humming. New events and partnerships have provided more service to our community, and brought in more visitors and new opportunities. While unexpected freezes and a blistering summer with no rain were devastating to our farmers, week after week visitors have shown up to support the farmers and vendors with goods to sell. Families and solo shoppers, regulars and first-time visitors, chefs, seniors and even tour groups have experienced the wonder of this amazing 23 year-old market, operating every Saturday, rain or shine, January to December, in the heart of the city.
FRIENDS OF THE MARKET BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Catherine Sloss Jones Board President
Sloss Real Estate
Franklin Biggs Chef
Katherine Davis Farmer
Michele Korf Educational Media
Hunter Lewis Food & Wine
Dr. Arlie Powell Petals from the Past
Jason Powell Petals from the Past
Allison Savela Financial Analyst, RSM
Becky Smith Philanthropist
John Steiner Attorney, Red Mountain Law
Frank Stitt Chef/Restaurateur
Pardis Stitt Restaurateur
Holly Terrell Artist
Valerie Thomas The VAL Group
Robert Walthall Attorney, Jones Walker
The Market at Pepper Place
Business office: 1130 22nd Street South, Suite 3500, Birmingham, AL 35205
Market location: 2829 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233 • www.pepperplacemarket.com
The Market helped establish two big events in Birmingham this year. On Earth Day, we joined forces with the national Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) for Celebrate Trails Day, being held in Alabama for the first time. Guests from the CDC, American Heart Association and the Mayor’s office joined the festivities. As part of that effort, the Market was recognized with a City of Birmingham Proclamation for Leadership in promoting healthier eating and lifestyle for area residents. This past Fall, the Market partnered with Southern Living, Auburn University’s Rane Center, the Alabama Humanities Alliance, AL and city tourism bureaus and others to launch the inaugural 4-day FOOD+Culture Fest. Chefs, food authors, storytellers, and wellness professionals were spotlighted at a special Market event, FOOD+Farmers Attendees and out-of-town guests were introduced to some of Alabama’s finest food producers and makers at our market. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the festival has just been nominated for Best New Festival of 2023 by USA Today. We’re expecting next year’s event to be bigger and even better. Save the date for Sept. 19-22, 2024!
We welcomed a number of prominent visitors this year. In October, a team working to reduce hunger came to learn about our market’s SNAP/food stamp and matching incentives program. Others exploring the US Civil Rights Trail made detours just to see our market. International food writers and TV crews visited the market too. Delegations planning major events in 2024 - the Main Street Now conference, coming in May, and the Transplant Games, coming next July, stopped by and plan to add market tours to their programs. The Market is affordable, accessible, authentic and shows off the best of our city and state, so it’s an easy visit to prioritize. The bonus is this also contributes to the local economy and promotes community vibrancy. Win-win!
Besides our well-attended weekly chef demos and four Wellness Days, the Market hosted multiple events throughout 2023 to promote Alabama farmers, makers, and seasonal eating: a Seed Swap, Tomato Day, Pumpkin Day and Holiday Markets. On Tomato Day, kids and grown-ups were introduced to “Mater,” the Market’s new mascot. The Market continues to collaborate with the BJCTA to support Birmingham Central Market, a weekly farmers market for city residents and transit riders at the MAX Intermodal Station, and with UAB on the Live HealthSmart Alabama initiative and Mobile Grocery, working to improve food access and health incomes for all Alabamians by 2030. The “Market Cities” program, launched earlier this year in partnership with Project for Public Spaces, is broadening in scope to address the unique needs of our diverse and complex community as we strive to build a stronger local food system. More to come on that in 2024.
What else? The Market continues to spotlight professional women in food by collaborating with Les Dames d’Escoffier International, with cooking demos, bake sales and other events. Every week, we offer live music on two stages. We provide a free tent space to non-profits, to help raise awareness and money for causes like cancer research, food education, seniors, veterans, the arts, Hispanic culture and a cleaner natural environment. We continue working on the design for the Market’s permanent home at Pepper Place. Our vendors have had strong sales all year, and several have won top awards. They are optimistic about the future. We’ve served the community and provided fresh food access in a safe and healthy environment, with 85 tents weekly and 10,000 visitors on peak Saturdays. Our social audience has grown to over 110K followers on social media and our e-newsletter combined.
We’re proud to be leading this Certified Alabama Farmers Market, the largest high-quality weekly market in the state. The Market at Pepper Place is a 501(c)3 non-profit, however, and must rely on sponsorships, grants and gifts from supporters like you to operate. As we update our Strategic Plan and plan for the future, we ask for your continued support in 2024 and beyond.
The following are some of the programs and events the Market offered throughout 2023, thanks to lead sponsor Medical Properties Trust, and many others:
• MARKET KITCHEN, WEEKLY CHEF DEMOS, RECIPES & WELLNESS DAYS, sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of AL(BCBSAL);
• COMMUNITY PARTNERS TENT, sponsored by Synovus Bank, providing local organizations and non-profits with a place at the weekly market to share their mission and projects;
• MISTING TENT, sponsored by select Pepper Place tenants and neighbors, proving a cooling space at the market on hot Saturdays;
• SNAP/EBT with matching Double Up Food Bucks, funded with a GUSNip grant administered by Auburn University;
• DRIVE ELECTRIC events, inviting EV owners from around AL to show off their electric cars, buses, bikes and scooters, sponsored by Alabama Power;
• BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL MARKET, collaboration with BJCTA, to support a yearround, weekday fresh food farmers market in downtown Birmingham for transit riders and city residents;
• LIVE HEALTHSMART ALABAMA & MOBILE GROCERY, partnership with UAB, bringing fresh food to city residents of food deserts;
• WOMEN IN FOOD MONTH, partnership with Les Dames d’Escoffier International, showcasing diverse food themes and specialties prepared by female chefs, food producers and educators, to raise funds for their culinary outreach programs, sponsored by Jones Walker LLP;
• GLEANING PROGRAM, partnership with Society of St. Andrew, with 10,600 lbs. of “leftover” unsold produce collected in 2023 and donated to local shelters and soup kitchens;
• MARKET FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM, an easy way for shoppers and fans to support the Market, sponsored by Friends of the Market
• FLAGSHIP MARKET TASK FORCE, partnership with the Farmers Market Coalition, joining a select group of leading US farmers markets to share research and data on the importance of market cities and impact on local economies.
The Market at Pepper Place
Business office: 1130 22nd Street South, Suite 3500, Birmingham, AL 35205
Market location: 2829 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233 • www.pepperplacemarket.com
We received invaluable help from sponsors in 2023. Please support their businesses whenever you can!
LEAD SPONSORS
Medical Properties
Trust
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of AL
Alabama Power/ Renew Our Rivers
Sloss Real Estate
Sweet Home Alabama
Balch & Bingham
Jones Walker
SELC
Synovus Bank
CORPORATE SPONSORS
Bancography
Bham Now
Bradley
Brasfield & Gorrie
Canopy Insurance
Chester’s Inc.
Regions Bank
Royal Cup Coffee
RSM
ServisFirst Bank
Shipshape
Stewart Perry
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Auburn University
BJCTA
City of Birmingham
Community Food Bank of Central Alabama
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Farmers Market Coalition
FOOD+ Culture Fest
Friends of the Market
Jones Family Fund
Les Dames d’Escoffier
Birmingham Chapter
Live HealthSmart
Alabama
Mike & Gillian Goodrich
Foundation
Project for Public Spaces
Protective Life Foundation
Rails to Trails Conservancy
Ratliff Charitable Foundation
PEPPER PLACE TENANTS & FRIENDS
Back Forty Beer Co.
Battle & Winn
The Blueroot Co.
Caroline Gidiere Design
The Collective
Crawford Square
Design Supply
EPIC Brokers & Insurance
Farmstand by Stone Hollow Farmstead
FRED Communication by Design
Ignite Cycle
JP Howard Photography
JRag
Lakeview Risk Partners
Left Hand Soap
Momentum Women Leaders
NOVA PT & Wellness
Pepper Place
Peritus Communications
The Red Cat
Richard Tubb Interiors
The Son of a Butcher
The Market at Pepper Place is led by an outstanding staff and Board of Directors. As we end this season and plan for the years to come, we renew the commitment to our mission:
Yellowhammer Creative “
Connecting Alabama’s finest producers with consumers in the Birmingham area, making fresh, healthy food accessible to all our neighbors while creating a vibrant local economy and a community meeting place.”
Thank you for your part in making the Market at Pepper Place possible this year. We look forward to seeing you at our outdoor Winter Market, opening in January 2024!
Leigh Sloss-Corra
Executive Director, The Market at Pepper Place
Catherine Sloss Jones Board Chair, Friends of the Market