Andy’s and Paradise Garden to Participate in ‘Green Market’
The Lee County Alliance of the Art’s will sponsor a weekly “Green Market” beginning on June 6 on the corner of Colonial and McGregor in Fort Myers. Among the vendors will be two merchants from Pine Island, Andy’s Island Seafood Market in Matlacha and Paradise Gardens of Pine Island in St. James City. The Green Market will take place from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday morning and will feature organic, locally grown, caught or cultivated foods.
Other vendors will offer homemade, healthy granola, plants and fresh cut flowers, vegetarian creations, artisanal breads, wine and cheese and other green products.
The proprietors at Andy’s has strived to deliver a “green” product to its customers. Realizing that the seafood industry, through its very nature, has a distinct impact on the ocean’s resources, Andy’s has been committed to being part of the solution rather than adding to the problem. Joining the Seafood Choices Alliance, which promotes ocean-friendly seafood businesses, Andy’s has committed to maintaining a market that is environmentally and economically sustainable. The Matlacha market sells only locally caught or farm raised fish and does not use any preservatives or chemicals on its products. In addition, Andy’s provides its customers with biodegradable bags and carry out containers. In addition to the seafood market, also found at Andy’s is a small “green” gallery display the work of local artists who have used recycle materials such as glass, discarded framing materials and refurbished painted furniture.
Andy’s Island Seafood opened at the Matlacha location in 2004 and prides itself on the fact that on entering the store, customers are not greeted by the smell of fish. The aroma they are most likely to notice is that of freshly baked bread ready for take-out as well as freshly baked deserts and home-made chowders.
Paradise Gardens of Pine Island is owned and operated by St. James City residents, Jim and Cynthia Welch. Products include jellies and preserves, hot sauces, chutneys, oils, vinegars and dip mixes which are all made from locally harvested fruits and vegetables. The Welch’s produce their products in their own kitchens using key limes and papayas from their own trees as well as picking fresh mangos, pomegranates, carambola, habanero peppers and citrus fruits including valencia oranges and ruby red grapefruit from local growers.
Paradise Gardens came into being in 2002 and today produces more than 500 dozen jars of products each year that are sent all over the United States. Locally, the products from Paradise Gardens can be purchased at the Seaweed Gallery, Pine Bay Gallery and Gifts and the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center in Matlacha, Koucky’s Gallery and Gardens in Bokeelia and at Earth and Spirit Gallery and Garden and Pine Island Variety Store in St. James City.
The Alliance of the Arts supports the arts and artists in Lee county and is the state designated Local Arts Agency for Lee County. For more information about the Alliance of the Arts Green Market, visit artinlee.org