THOMASVILLE — The owner of a wholesale produce company at the local farmers market would put the Thomasville market up against any Georgia farmers market.

The Thomasville market — and markets in Savannah and Macon — are on the hatchet list to cut Georgia Department of Agriculture expenses after a coronavirus-related revenue shortfall.

Randall Moore, owner of Moore & Porter Produce, said he thinks Savanah and Macon markets are totally retail.

“The market is not losing money,” Moore said.

The Thomasville market provides jobs and services to the community and farmers, Moore said.

“Thomasville has a very thriving business here,” he added.

Moore’s business employs 15 and has an annual payroll of about $800,000.

Allen Williams, 70, has worked at the business for almost 40 years. Williams said he has been with the company “from the beginning.””He’s always been there for me,” Williams said of Moore.

Williams’ son, Ken Williams, joined the company eight years ago.

Moore has been in business at the market since 1981. He said the dollar volume at his business today probably exceeds the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s.

Overall, he said, the market is responsible for $25 million in annual sales. In addition to Moore’s business, a retail/wholesale produce business operates on the eight-acre site at 502 Smith Ave.

The Thomasville market is the second-largest in the state after Atlanta, Moore said, adding that he has spent close to $75,000 “out of my pocket” on improvements at his business during the past decade.

“Our farmers have built facilities at their farms to package product before bringing it to Thomasville to market their product,” Moore said.

Some small farmers “peddle” their produce at the market, Moore said.

Farmers who grow to sell to Moore’s company do not operate on a hit-and-miss basis. The farmers decide what to plant and transport the produce to Moore’s all-vegetable business, where it is cooled in boxes in an enormous cooler, then shipped.

Pointing out that farmers market business owners are responsible for maintenance of the buildings they lease from the state, Moore said his produce-cooling system cannot not be dismantled and reinstalled elsewhere. 

“This cooling belongs to me,” he said.

“I’m one of the last guys standing,” Moore said, adding that he is 60 years old and will not launch a new business in a new location. 

Retail/wholesale Lewis Produce at the market is owned and operated by the third generation of the Lewis family.

The market, which opened in the 1930s, is a sentimental subject with Moore, who talks frequently to state-level officials, including local legislators.

“This is an iconic piece of property,” he said. “My true feelings are that they’re going to come to their senses in Thomasville.” 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820