Farmer's Market

**drsvelte** · 01-26-2008, 10:22 AM

I received the following e-mail message from Sandestin Owners Association:

"Central FL Produce will begin offering a Farmer's Market in the
Starbuck's courtyard at the Market Shops this Saturday, January
26th from 8:30 a.m. - until. They will be here each Friday and
Saturday thereafter through spring and summer. FL strawberries,
tomatoes, and other seasonal produce will be available."

**Jdarg** · 01-26-2008, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by drsvelte

I received the following e-mail message from Sandestin Owners Association:

"Central FL Produce will begin offering a Farmer's Market in the
Starbuck's courtyard at the Market Shops this Saturday, January
26th from 8:30 a.m. - until. They will be here each Friday and
Saturday thereafter through spring and summer. FL strawberries,
tomatoes, and other seasonal produce will be available."

If this is the same company that has been there the past year, don't waste your money. Perfect looking, but tasteless produce- you can do better at Publix. I never saw any "seasonal" produce- only the tomatoes and strawberries. Appears to be a commercial grower they have brought in to be a "farmer".

**elgordoboy** · 01-26-2008, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by drsvelte

I received the following e-mail message from Sandestin Owners Association:

"Central FL Produce will begin offering a Farmer's Market in the
Starbuck's courtyard at the Market Shops this Saturday, January
26th from 8:30 a.m. - until. They will be here each Friday and
Saturday thereafter through spring and summer. FL strawberries,
tomatoes, and other seasonal produce will be available."

Originally Posted by jdarg

If this is the same company that has been there the past year, don't waste your money. Perfect looking, but tasteless produce- you can do better at Publix. I never saw any "seasonal" produce- only the tomatoes and strawberries. Appears to be a commercial grower they have brought in to be a "farmer".

**Teresa** · 01-26-2008, 12:02 PM

what about Toni's? haven't heard from her in a while! what's up with you Toni?

**Jdarg** · 01-26-2008, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by elgordoboy

Sorry- but maybe they are changing vendors and it will be better! Why don't you scout it out for us and report back....

**elgordoboy** · 01-26-2008, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by jdarg

Sorry- but maybe they are changing vendors and it will be better! Why don't you scout it out for us and report back....

I'm on the job!..gotta

first.

**elgordoboy** · 01-26-2008, 02:49 PM

I am going to have to turn in my Scoop hat and reporter's creds. I messed up and ate some tacos first. That and the rain took the starch out of me. I want to pile up in bed now.

**elgordoboy** · 01-26-2008, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by Tootsie

what about Toni's? haven't heard from her in a while! what's up with you Toni?

Yeah and go to Toni's (sorry Stan but I gotta eat)

**Smiling JOe** · 01-26-2008, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by jdarg

If this is the same company that has been there the past year, don't waste your money. Perfect looking, but tasteless produce- you can do better at Publix. I never saw any "seasonal" produce- only the tomatoes and strawberries. Appears to be a commercial grower they have brought in to be a "farmer".

Ditto, and they are over-priced. They do offer peaches, too. "They" aren't even farmers, just transportation/resale people.

**HYDROSTAN** · 01-27-2008, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by elgordoboy

Yeah and go to Toni's (sorry Stan but I gotta eat)

You don't have to be sorry. Everyone has to eat. I do not sell produce in the state of South Walton anymore.
The Farmers Market in San Destin is just more "fake" produce in my opionion. I don't know if Toni is back selling produce yet. Agent Prichert (sp) with the Florida Dept. of Agriculture told me he issued a stop sell order last week to Toni due to issues of repackaging produce, not listing sources and not having the proper license. Really just a bunch of govt. b.s. I am just stating what I was told. You can contact Agent Prichert with the food safety division of the FL. Dept. of Agriculture, for more info if you think I am throwing rotten maters. Hopefully she got it fixed as it is very frustrating when the government gets involved in your business. With that said, rules in doing business for one should be applied to all. El Bandito Mate

**Christian** · 01-27-2008, 01:37 PM

All is well at Toni's! I was just there and picked up some beautiful fresh collards, peppers, lettuce, and strawberries!

Here's the real story on Toni's and her inspection by the State Department of Agriculture:

When I visited her last weekend, Toni said that John Peebles, an inspector with the State Department of Agriculture, had just inspected her business a few days before due to a complaint. According to Toni, Mr. Peebles said he received a complaint that someone had become ill after eating some greens purchased from her. He suspected the complaint was false, but he had to investigate as part of his job.

He found a few minor labeling violations with her packaged greens, she sadly had to get rid of her cool little cat-Lotto--since animals aren't allowed at a business selling food, and a couple of other minor things, BUT SHE WAS NEVER SHUT DOWN. In fact, the inspector helped her upgrade her current state license so that she will soon be able to also sell items like fresh milk, cheese, meats, etc., and have a kitchen to prepare foods. Toni had to pay additional $ for the upgraded license and has registered to attend a required food handling class.

Toni told me she's so excited by the upgrades to her license and her new ability to sell a wider variety of fresh, local foods, that she was tempted to send roses to whover complained...if she knew who it was.

**scooterbug44** · 01-27-2008, 04:31 PM

What a crock!

I buy produce from Toni every week, and even though the scooterbug gut is as finely tuned to bad food/prep techniques as it is to people being full of sheet I have NEVER gotten sick!

I'll give you three guesses as to who made the "anonymous" complaint, though I bet you won't need two of them!

Definitely a concrete indicator of "bad" practices that when the inspector makes a vist she gets to upgrade her license!

**HYDROSTAN** · 01-27-2008, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

What a crock!

I buy produce from Toni every week, and even though the scooterbug gut is as finely tuned to bad food/prep techniques as it is to people being full of sheet I have NEVER gotten sick!

I'll give you three guesses as to who made the "anonymous" complaint, though I bet you won't need two of them!

Definitely a concrete indicator of "bad" practices that when the inspector makes a vist she gets to upgrade her license!

Glad it worked out. If you are refering to me as the anonymous complaintant you are not correct. I do not make anonymous complaints. I would have used my name. Just ask code enforcement.

**elgordoboy** · 01-27-2008, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

What a crock!

I buy produce from Toni every week, and even though the scooterbug gut is as finely tuned to bad food/prep techniques as it is to people being full of sheet I have NEVER gotten sick!

I'll give you three guesses as to who made the "anonymous" complaint, though I bet you won't need two of them!

Definitely a concrete indicator of "bad" practices that when the inspector makes a vist she gets to upgrade her license!

I am outraged that you should accuse me of such!!
....
....
....
Oops..sorry scoots. I must have a guilty conscience to think you meant me without you having mentioned me.

**SWGB** · 01-27-2008, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by Christian

All is well at Toni's! I was just there and picked up some beautiful fresh collards, peppers, lettuce, and strawberries!

Here's the real story on Toni's and her inspection by the State Department of Agriculture:

When I visited her last weekend, Toni said that John Peebles, an inspector with the State Department of Agriculture, had just inspected her business a few days before due to a complaint. According to Toni, Mr. Peebles said he received a complaint that someone had become ill after eating some greens purchased from her. He suspected the complaint was false, but he had to investigate as part of his job.

He found a few minor labeling violations with her packaged greens, she sadly had to get rid of her cool little cat-Lotto--since animals aren't allowed at a business selling food, and a couple of other minor things, BUT SHE WAS NEVER SHUT DOWN. In fact, the inspector helped her upgrade her current state license so that she will soon be able to also sell items like fresh milk, cheese, meats, etc., and have a kitchen to prepare foods. Toni had to pay additional $ for the upgraded license and has registered to attend a required food handling class.

Toni told me she's so excited by the upgrades to her license and her new ability to sell a wider variety of fresh, local foods, that she was tempted to send roses to whover complained...if she knew who it was.

I can attest to this, spoke with Toni today at Fire and all is well with the produce stand.

**shgoode** · 01-31-2008, 09:04 AM

Forgive my lack of knowledge, but where is Toni's? I feel like everyone knows but me!

**Jdarg** · 01-31-2008, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by shgoode

Forgive my lack of knowledge, but where is Toni's? I feel like everyone knows but me!

Off 283, turn down the road by Sherwin Williams

**shgoode** · 01-31-2008, 09:20 AM

Thanks, can't wait to go! One of the things I really miss about my Dad is his fabulous garden. I've often thought of trying to get a community garden started here. I tried tomatoes in this sand.....obviously that didn't work! Dad always had that good Tennessee soil to work in which made everything so tasty.

**TreeFrog** · 01-31-2008, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by shgoode

Thanks, can't wait to go! One of the things I really miss about my Dad is his fabulous garden. I've often thought of trying to get a community garden started here. I tried tomatoes in this sand.....obviously that didn't work! Dad always had that good Tennessee soil to work in which made everything so tasty.

Keep in touch with Toni next summer if you like Ripley tomatoes. After hearing from several of us how good they are, she arranged to get some brought in. Bliss while it lasted!

**ASH** · 02-20-2008, 10:13 AM

I was on Toni's yesterday and what a place. Bought some tomatos and lettuce. Perfect!
I've had some of those Ripley Tomato's and will be in line when they show up.

**Chi-Bikini** · 07-15-2008, 11:29 PM

Where is Toni's?

**TreeFrog** · 07-16-2008, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by Chi-Bikini

Where is Toni's?

Going north out of Grayton on 283, turn left onto the gravel road that's on the south side of the Sherwin Williams store. She's on your right, the north side of the road, just a short distance.

She also sets up Saturday mornings in Seaside next to the Raw and Juicy Airstream.