The July 2024 Bulloch County Historical Society meeting discussed the Georgia Farmers & Consumers Market Bulletin’s history and evolving role in Georgia agriculture since its founding in 1917.
The meeting began promptly with time for socializing, followed by a delicious buffet catered by Touch of Class Catering by Annette. The menu included salad/coleslaw, chopped pork BBQ, potato salad, green beans, bread, assorted cheesecakes (caramel & chocolate-caramel), and cold beverages. Delicious!
Jay Jones, the presenter, joined the Georgia Department of Agriculture in 2019 as the ‘Market Bulletin’s’ associate editor and was later named editor in 2022.
Jones has 30+ years of experience in print journalism, working at Georgia newspapers like the Statesboro Herald, the Savannah Morning News, the Valdosta Daily Times, and the Rockdale Citizen. He is a Georgia Southern College graduate (Class of 1988), a resident of Conyers, and enjoys life with his wife Amy and their 2 daughters.
Well prepared, Jones addressed the 60+ guests eloquently and was prepared to answer questions, which he did with ease. With reliable and consistent data, Jay was equipped to discuss this topic in full detail, starting with the question, ‘What is the Market Bulletin?'
The Georgia Farmers & Consumer Market Bulletin has served for 107+ years as a medium of exchange for Georgians engaged in agriculture, with thousands of monthly advertisements for livestock, farm supplies, equipment, handcrafted and homegrown items -- many things you can't find elsewhere. The ‘Market Bulletin’ is a reliable source for the latest agriculture and consumer news.
Jones shared that JJ Brown, who was elected as Georgia's Agricultural Commissioner in 1916, served five two-year terms through 1926. He pushed for crop diversification, argued for land ownership for tenant farmers and land tax reform, and established the Bureau of Markets and ‘Market Bulletin’ in 1917.
The ‘Market Bulletin’ played a significant role in producing products, supporting farmers during the Great Depression and World War II. Currently, it has evolved to include features like ‘Home and Garden’ recipes and lifestyle articles, and it remains a widely read publication with a strong online presence.
One BCHS guest shared, “We lived on a farm in the 40s, and I saw an advertisement in the ‘Market Bulletin’ for seed. I recall taping coins on paper, enclosed a self addressed stamped envelope, and mailed my request, waiting eagerly for the package to come."
Initially, the ‘Market Bulletin’ was a weekly newspaper, focusing on agriculture, farming and market trends, and farming advice, later expanding into local news, community events, and classified advertising. Today, it's published in print and online, available by subscription only, every 2 weeks (or 26 times/year). It has grown to an impressive 35,000 paid subscribers and 30,000 GATE (Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption) program participants.
The Market Bulletin continues in Georgia as ‘The Heartbeat of Agriculture.' For more information, contact Jay Jones at [email protected].
Subscriptions are $10 per year for 26 issues and include online access and ad placement, as well as a searchable archive of past issues. You can subscribe here.
For access to historical archives of Market Bulletin issues, visit the Digital Library of Georgia.
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