With rows of white tents full of fresh food from local and family owned farms, original paintings and handmade glass and live music, Athens Farmer’s Market at Bishop Park is, if anything, an early-morning party.

“They are all made up by tents sponsored by businesses in town,” said Michael Perkins, the marketing coordinator for EarthFare at Five Points. “It’s all about local. It’s not all about organic, but local, local, local.”

The idea for the Market was proposed to local farmers by Craig Paige, the executive director of Promoting Local Agriculture & Cultural Events, after several people asked him why there was no such market in Athens.

“There was community interest, so we kicked it off in August of 2007,” he said. “We asked local farmers if they wanted this, and they did. ”

Paige has watched the Market grow steadily in popularity since 2007.

“We started in 2008 with about 10 farmers, and [now] we have 2,200 people show up the first day,” he said.

Perkins said EarthFare’s role is to sponsors tents that hold fresh produce of a local farmer.

“Most Americans have no idea what fresh real food tastes like,” he said. “You get to really enjoy the concept of shaking hands with the guy who grew your green beans.”