If you have not gone by this year’s Dawson County Produce Market, you are missing a great opportunity to buy excellent locally grown produce. 

The market is held each Wednesday and Saturday from 7-10 a.m. 

This past Wednesday, 15 local farmers and gardeners had an outstanding amount of fresh corn, beans, peas, tomatoes, potatoes and the list goes on.

The Dawson County Produce Market started five years ago.  The market is held in the front parking lot of the Dawson County Agricultural Center (old library), which is located at 298 Academy Avenue in Dawsonville. 

The market season starts in late June and will end in September. 

For more information about the market, including rules for selling at the market, contact the Dawson County office of The University of Georgia Extension Service. 

The office phone number is (706) 265-2442.

Speaking of the Extension Service, some people may not know or understand what the extension office does. Every county in Georgia, and I expect every county in the United States, has a county extension office. 

The extension office is an outreach service of the states land grant college, in Georgia’s case; we are part of the University of Georgia, as well as USDA and the local county government.

The mission of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is to extend lifelong learning to the people of Georgia through unbiased, research-based education in agriculture, the environment, communities, youth and families.

The extension office not only provides educational knowledge to farmers, but all citizens.  The local extension office is used by thousands of Dawson County citizens each year. 

Answers to questions from anything from pastures and livestock to lawns or gardens can be answered by contacting the extension office.

4-H, the largest youth organization in Dawson County with nearly 500 members, is conducted thru the local extension office. Livestock shows, judging teams, educational in-school programs, and summer camps are only a few of the opportunities offered by the 4-H.

For more information about what extension can do for you, including water and soil test, contact our office at (706) 265-2442 or visit our Web site at www.ugaextension.com/dawson.

Clark Beusse is the Dawson County extension agent.