The newly-organized Farmers and Fishermen’s Cooperative held a pop-up market on Mathews Main Street on Friday and Saturday to introduce the organization to the public and encourage small farmers, watermen and artisan producers to become members. Over 150 people stopped by the market over the two days, said Christian Brown, president of the co-op, and 40 people signed up for the newsletter. “The community was very welcoming,” he said. “It was so encouraging.” Brown said the 501(c)(3) organization currently has over 20 members representing 16 local farming and fishing enterprises, including vegetable, flower, and mushroom farms, watermen, and one plant nursery. There are no livestock farms yet, he said, but they are welcome and encouraged, as are artisans who make their own jams and jellies, soaps, seasonings, and other products they source from the land. Virginia Tech Extension Agent Frank Long is providing guidance for the group. “We’re a collective group of individuals that have come ...