The Georgia Department of Agriculture is marking the 100th anniversary of the Farmers & Consumers Market Bulletin. The bimonthly newspaper began in 1917 to facilitate produce sales and provide a means for farmers to advertise their wares.
The Market Bulletin – as it is commonly called by its 40,000 subscribers – continues its marketing functions and serves as a source of information for farmers and the general public on such topics as food safety, animal and plant disease outbreaks, fuel and measures, food safety, animal protection, structural pest control and other areas that fall under the regulatory responsibility of the department. It is also a chief source of information about buying and using Georgia Grown branded products.
Subscribers can place free advertisements for what they are selling or what they want to buy. Among the hundreds of classified ads in a recent issue were ones for fainting goats, silver laced Wyandottes, rooster spur and scorpion peppers, red spider lily bulbs, peafowl, black walnuts, reclaimed barn wood and roofing tin. There were also ads for farmland, farm machinery, employment opportunities and major livestock.
“The Market Bulletin may have changed in appearance and format over the years, but the function has remained the same. It continues to serve as the go-to source for those seeking to buy and sell agricultural wares, as well as the premiere publication for intriguing stories and articles focusing on rural life,” said Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black.
The Georgia House of Representatives commemorated the Market Bulletin’s centennial year with a special resolution during the 2017 session. The newspaper is offering readers a glimpse into Georgia’s agricultural past with reprints of articles and ads from the archives. A weekly social media campaign is being used to introduce the paper to a wider audience, as well.
“While we enjoy celebrating our heritage over the past 100 years, we are also focused on the future. After all these years, we are proud to still offer a valuable and anticipated service and intend to continue meeting the needs of our loyal readership,” Black said.
