Section 2-5-1

Establishment; powers and duties.

(a) There is established in the State of Alabama a Farmers' Market Authority with powers and duties to establish agricultural markets to prevent waste and to provide marketing facilities where farm products, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, truck crops, and other agricultural commodities may be processed, graded, packaged, displayed, or exhibited in order to encourage the buying and selling of the commodities, and to encourage the public interest, thus promoting good will between the rural and urban sectors of the State of Alabama. The authority may procure by purchase, lease, rent, gift, or otherwise, necessary market sites in this state on which to conduct farmers' markets.

(b) Notwithstanding Article 3 of Chapter 15 of Title 9, the Farmers' Market Authority, upon the approval of the Governor, may grant, bargain, sell, and convey all its right, title, and interest in any market which it has established and any facility installed in any market or in connection with any market upon terms and conditions as it deems expedient. The authority, however, shall not execute a deed of conveyance to any market and market facilities, including the land on which it is located, until it has received payment in full of an amount sufficient to reimburse it for the expenses incurred in acquiring the land, erecting any buildings thereon, and installing any facilities. No deed of conveyance shall be executed until the grantee agrees to continue to operate the market for the benefit of agricultural producers in the area then being served by the market, as long as this need continues to exist, pursuant to rules and regulations of operation as are prescribed by the Farmers' Market Authority and stipulated in the contract and deed of sale.

(c) In the event a market is no longer needed to serve the agricultural community as stipulated by the Farmers' Market Authority, the authority, as a means to recoup to the extent possible all moneys expended by the authority in establishing the market, shall obtain a certified appraisal of the market, advertise for four weeks that the market will be sold at public auction or sealed bid on a certain date, and sell the market at public auction or sealed bid with the authority reserving the right to accept or reject any or all bids, and no sale shall be executed without the approval of the Governor.

(d) No sale shall be made by the Farmers' Market Authority without a complete and full recitation of the facts and reasons for the sale being spread on the minutes of the authority and in a certificate signed by the chair certifying to the Governor that the stated facts and reasons are true to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

(Acts 1965, No. 672, p. 1208, §1; Acts 1969, Ex. Sess., No. 221, p. 289; Acts 1969, No. 270, p. 600, §1; Act 98-243, p. 396, § 1.)