Southwest Georgia farmers could breathe new life into a shuttered state farmers market. A nonprofit is behind the proposed venture.

The Southwest Georgia Project, an agricultural-based nonprofit in Albany wants to open a Fresh Cut Processing Center. It would give smaller farmers a chance to sell fruits and vegetables to customers and nearby school systems.

The group’s agriculture coordinator, Jacqueline Childress says right now they have 40 farmers interested in the project.

“The problem that the farmers are having in the area is that there is really no place right now in the large quantity to sell produce to. So, a lot of them don’t grow on all the land that they do have.”

Dougherty County may ask the state to donate the land where the market once stood. They in turn would lease it to local organizers at a reduced rate.

Tags: Albany, Georgia agriculture, GPB, Josephine Bennett, Southwest Georgia Project, small farms