'Food Geek' Is a Suwanee Market Original

Note: The Suwanee Farmers Market is Tuesday, 4-7 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon, at Town Center Park.

Sharon Batchel grew up canning produce and once thought, "I'll never do this again."

Then she found out that produce at grocery stores is not fresh, and that the canned products don't have a lot of flavor.

So she founded Serenity Gardens 26 years ago in Buford, and she now is in her ninth year of selling at the Suwanee Farmers Market. She has 62 products in 14 categories.

"I know each and every jar personally," she said recently at her booth at Town Center Park. Her vendor badge says "food geek" and "bottle washer."

Her big sellers are anything peach and Vidalia onion. Chow Chow, a cabbage relish, also is popular. The jar label says "really hot!" She recently allowed visitors to sample a cucumber dip and chips.

Her work week starts on Sunday when she picks blueberries, cucumber and okra. She also makes Vidalia onion relish and catches up on paperwork. 

On Monday it's peaches and preserves. Tuesday she picks beans and blueberries. Wednesday she takes care of personal business. More picking beans and blueberries on Thursday, and Friday it's peppers and tomatoes. Then to market on Saturday.

Some examples of her products: Fig whole fruit spread (18 ounces, $7.50); pickled beans (16 ounces, $5).

She only sells directly at the Suwanee market, but does about half her business on the Internet.