Farmers Markets Create Community

Hello…

Let’s talk about farmers markets and why they are essential especially now.

This was my first year of serious markets and it was an interesting one from the first day out in the freezing 38 degree weather with snow to the fall festivals with wind gusts that blew product off the tables. I loved and hated every minute of it and now I think I am addicted to the community that I have had the honor of becoming a part of.

When I started this adventure I had no idea what I was getting into but as I packed up the car with tent, weights, goodies and all sorts of things each week I grew excited to be at market and it quickly became my favorite day of the week. It wasn’t the hours spent making all the baked goodies that was appealing but the companionship and comradery that developed through the weeks of seeing the same vendors and meeting all the people that live in the communities and neighborhoods that we sell in and support us.

You start to develop rapport and hear stories about why people are excited to see you and you learn how to be a better person and vendor and in general you learn what matters to the people that come to see you every week. The vendors become like a village where everyone helps and cheers on each other. My vegan neighbors would refer guests over to us for GF vegan goodies and we would reciprocate by talking about how awesome their food was..(I really loved their flavored lemonades)…. We got to enjoy the march of beautiful flowers that were being sold across the aisle from us and the joy that they spread across the market was palpable. At one market all the GF vendors were teamed together in what was called GF alley and we promoted each other… got to love the GF cheezee crackers…so addicting…

But seriously, vendors helped each other set up and we traded goodies between each other. There was only happiness when others sold out on a weekend. The positivity is really amazing. The market managers work hard to create the best blend of vendors for the customers and to create an experience that everyone can enjoy. Sometimes prices are a little higher than at a store but you are getting the freshest produce that is produced locally and the flavor is sooo much better than anything you will find at the supermarket. The products, plants and baked goods are all created with love. The coffee ground with precision and a sense of pride in providing top notch quality. These vendors and creators make magic every week and everything is done with serious thought and a passion for what they do.

Farmers drive over the mountains four to five hours to bring apples, cherries, plums and pears. The flower vendors come from the same area as well. They sleep in hotels and spend every weekend away from home so that we all can enjoy the literal fruits of their labor.

If you are a market goer than you understand the addiction that is the market… the atmosphere and the lure of the seasonal finds. If you are not a market goer than I highly recommend going out to a market just once to experience it. I think that you will feel the community right away and once you experience the welcome, openness and genuineness you will come back again and again. Supporting your community, farmers and local businesses creates a stronger unity and a sense of awareness of your fellow neighbors that can influence how you see the world and creates room for empathy and kindness. Community and a sense of unity seems more important right now with the state of the world and farmers markets are a perfect way to spread that love one weekend at a time.

I am sad that the market season has ended and I almost can’t wait to see what next season will bring. I hope to see you out there. And to all the vendors have a happy offseason and see you in the spring.