VALDOSTA — Farmers markets in Georgia have been the epicenter of agricultural exchange for decades. An outlet for rural farmers to bring their product into town and sell to people without the space to grow produce.

Georgia state farmers markets, those markets that are owned by the state but operated by market managers or lessors, are steadily declining.

With the economic downturn, the possibility of closing more markets across the state is never too far from becoming reality.

The state is discussing giving up ownership of a number of its farmers markets, said Deputy Commissioner Terry Coleman, Georgia Department of Agriculture.

But Valdosta, he said, and many of the larger state farmers markets, such as those in Atlanta, Macon, Thomasville and Savannah, are safe — for now.

“We certainly want to keep our regional major markets open,” he said.

The continued operation by the state of some of the markets could come to a close before the end of the year.

Rep. Ellis Black, D-Valdosta, said the fate of the Valdosta farmers market on South Patterson Street, which includes Carter and Sons Produce, Farmer Brown’s and B.E. Guess and Sons Pecan Co., could be decided this legislative session.

In the summer of 2007, Black, along with other representatives appointed to a study committee, toured state markets and discussed how well they were being utilized.

Several of the markets are no longer being used to the fullest advantage and have fallen into disrepair, Black said.

“The Valdosta market could go either way,” he said. “The facilities are quite old, and it would take a lot of work and a lot of money to get them back in shape.”

The original use of farmers markets has become antiquated, he said.

“The whole concept is really out of date. Originally, it was set up for farmers to bring in their product on pickup trucks and have a place to sell in town,” Black said. “This is no longer a practical business model.”

The commissioner of agriculture rents, as landlord, or leases, as lessor, the buildings for the markets within the state. This also gives the Georgia Department of Agriculture the power to close a farmers market.

“We rent spaces to help produce dealers and others who buy local products and resell them, which helps the whole agricultural industry,” Coleman said. “When you look at closing a market like Valdosta, the truth is, if we closed it, we would actually lose money because of the rent we get from the two major vendors there.”