The inaugural Gordon Hospital Farmer’s Market brought out several local farmers from in and around Gordon County, bringing products from honey to squash and everything in between.

Gordon Hospital hopes to continue the market every Thursday, to support community farmers by hosting the market and giving citizens an opportunity to buy locally and eat healthier.

“We are just trying to provide fresh produce for the community. It is a ‘win-win’ because we want to be able to help the farmers and we want to buy from the farmers. It’s a great way for all of us to benefit,” said Gordon Hospital Clinical Dietician Judy Fehlenberg.

Ranger, Ga., farmer Steve Bezdek who was selling cucumbers and other produce at the market says he has been growing and consuming his own produce since he was a boy, and rarely recalls being inflicted with an illness, which he credits with eating organically.

Bezdek and other farmers at the market were satisfied with the outcome of the event, and many farmers had sold most if not all of their products, and planned to return to the Gordon Hospital Farmer’s Market, in the following weeks.

According to Fehlenberg, the market will provide information on a weekly basis in conjunction with produce brought by the farmers, to feature a “Cancer Fighter of the Week,” with nutritional information about the specific produce.

The market aims to promote awareness of eating and buying food from local farmers in the Gordon County community. There is no cost for farmers to sell produce and will be held every Thursday in the parking lot of the human resources building of Gordon Hospital, on Hospital Court, from 5-7 p.m. For more information, contact Fehlenberg at 706-602-7800, ext. 2074.

To see some of the many other farmers at the first Gordon Hospital Farmer’s Market, check out www.calhountimes.com and view the slideshow.

Editor's note: For more "Cook of the Week" recipes, visit www.calhountimes.com.