While I didn’t grow up going to farmers markets, I always appreciated their older cousin—the roadside produce stand with piles of peaches and mountains of tomatoes. And bags of boiled peanuts on a good day.
Later when I lived in urban areas offering multiple farmers markets, they became my main source for fresh fruits, veggies, flowers, eggs, and the occasional chicken tikka masala wrap. Bryon and I were lucky to have a year-round Saturday market not far from our house, and we regularly visited our favorite booths: the gruff-voiced man for potatoes, onions, and peppers; the shy mother with baskets of salad greens; the jolly fellow with salsas and tomatoes; the egg lady who called me darlin’; and so many others. I never thought about the amount of effort that must have gone into making the market run so smoothly. There were easily 50 vendors, maybe more, in the parking lot of a busy shopping center. We just showed up, walked around making purchases, and left happy with bags of goodies.
Fast forward to the present, when I have been serving on the board of directors for our nearest farmers market for almost two years. It’s a much smaller operation, with closer to 20 vendors and only one paid staff position. I joined the board in 2020, after the pandemic began throwing a big wrench into everyone’s wheels. We couldn’t even afford to pay the market manager for a spell, due to missed fundraising opportunities and reduced vendor numbers and sales. I jumped in immediately, helping with the new online sales system and the market’s social media and promotion.
Even without the craziness of Covid, market success takes a great deal of work. Board members are busy (most are farmers), and we have a new manager. Permits, insurance, licenses, taxes, etc. need to be sorted, and new vendors approved. We have to figure out traffic flow, musicians, kids’ activities, which booth goes where. SNAP tokens, Market Match dollars (an awesome program that gives SNAP recipients greater access to healthy food), WIC and senior nutrition checks all require processing and paperwork.
But all the applications and meetings and emails are worth it. Because what it boils down to is this: farmers markets create a place for producers to connect their food and wares with their communities. Farmers and other vendors pour themselves into growing vegetables and fruit and starts, tending chickens and other animals, baking treats, making teas and jams and sauces, crafting pretty things. People can buy fresh, local food and goods, and support their neighbors at the same time.
So the moral of this story is please try to shop local and support small businesses… even if you don’t think about what goes into making a market.