Farmers Market seeks friends
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 02:20 p.m., July 7, 2008
Updated 02:20 p.m., July 7, 2008
The Emporia Farmers Market is “still seeking friends” to help “to continue to make the Emporia Farmers Market a reality,” said the news release from the Learning Connection. Donations to the Friends of the Farmers Market support the market’s operating budget and donations are tax-deductible. The market is operated by The Learning Connection of the Flint Hills, a non-profit corporation in the State of Kansas that has been designated as a federal 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS.
The Connection is suggesting donor levels ranging from $20 for individuals through $1,000 for life members; however, donations of any amount will be accepted.
All who join Friends of the Farmers Market on or before Saturday will be recognized in a display at the Homegrown Celebration on July 19. Those joining on or before Sept. 27 will be recognized at the Harvest Festival on Oct. 11.
Many levels of corporate/organizational sponsorships are available — from single market days, to special events, to our e-mail newsletter and coming Web site.
Volunteer help is also needed with running the kiosk at each market, along with special events, maintaining market equipment, data collection and analysis and grant-writing.
For more information, see market manager Tracey Graham at 702 Commercial St., Suite B-3; call 343-6555; or e-mail: tlcfh@yahoo.com.
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
Ms.Graham
Does the farmers market provide the necessary infrastructure to serve low-income customers who rely on federal nutrition programs and what does the farmers market do to foster a market environment that is welcoming to customers of various cultures?
Thank you.
July 7, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
traceygraham (Tracey Graham) says...
Great question LGO!
Many of our vendors participate in the federally-funded Farmers' Market Senior Nutrition Program. Last year, more than $2500 worth of fresh produce was provided to seniors in need through the farmers' market. This year several hundreds of dollars worth have already gone through the program - my data is at the office, so I can't tell you exactly how much at this moment. It should total well over $3000 this year.
There is a pilot program for WIC currently taking place in 3 Kansas counties. When the details have been ironed out with that program, it should be expanded to other KS counties, and our market will without a doubt be included in phase 2, because of our long history with the SNP. We look forward to that! More good food in the hands and the mouths of people who can truly use it.
We also distribute "Market Money" coupons to area schoolchildren when we do in-school presentations, but that has been by no means comprehensive and we hope to expand that more in the future. We need funding to do that, though.
As for diversity among our customers, I'd say we get a fairly nice mix, but I'd like to see a lot more. I'd especially like to have more _vendors_ of different cultures, which would not only bring in more customers of different cultures, but also provide a wider variety of foodstuffs for all of us!
For example - I know that many of the Asian greens grow very well in our soil and our climate, but our current vendors haven't yet explored those areas much. I'm crazy for Bok Choy and would love it if someone would grow some for me!
And what about tomatillos!!! Have you ever had a fresh, homegrown tomatillo? Yum yum yum!!!
If you have any suggestions for how to reach out to bring in more customers and/or vendors of different cultures, Id' be most delighted to hear them! Honest!
It's our community market, and we have such a wonderful, diverse community. I'd love to see more representation of all the peoples of Emporia!
July 7, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
Ms. Graham, thank you for the information.
For diversity among customers:
It has been echoed time and time again, that people like to spend their money and time with people who look like them.
You may think about having a few cooking demonstrations or Recipe swaps, with a different ethnic theme each week/month. Like Soul Food and Ol time southern meals, Asian, Italian,etc and consider inviting local musicians or different ethnic groups to perform at the market to create an ambience that encourages customers to linger. As the saying goes, nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd and children’s activities may also offer a means to attract families to the market.
July 7, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abc123 (anonymous) says...
Is the farmer's market limited to food stuff? Can artists have space there as well? Maybe more people would show up if there was a lot of interesting things to see and purchase along with the food, like it was stated above, a crowd attracts a crowd. How about a couple times a year having a flea market along with the farmers market? Then the group could earn booth rental fees to help fund programs!!
July 8, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
traceygraham (Tracey Graham) says...
LGO: Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take them to my board. Would you happen to have any one I could contact who would be willing to do such demonstrations? I'm just a part-time person, doing what turns out to be a pretty-much full-time job, and have my hands full trying to keep the current market on track, but would very much like to explore your suggestions. If you'd be interested in taking this discussion off-line, I'm at tlcfh@yahoo.com.
As for children's activities - we've got the Homegrown Celebration coming up on July 26, a few more activities for kids later in the summer, and then the Harvest Festival on October 11.
This years special events are listed in the 8-page tab that came out in the Gazette (but not online) way back in late April. I have some extra copies if you're interested in picking one up at the FM kiosk or in the lobby of the Kress Building.
July 8, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
traceygraham (Tracey Graham) says...
abc:
The majority of the goods for sale at the market are fresh produce and baked goods, meats and eggs. This is what sells.
We sometimes have handcrafted items as well. For example, theres a really nice person named Patty Delmont who has been selling gourd birdhouses at markets recently. They're beautiful! We also have some vendors that sell handmade soaps, lotions and candles. All very pure, clean and local.
Unfortunately, handcrafted items have usually not sold as well as foods at the market. People enjoy looking at them and saying isn't that pretty, but they're mainly there to buy foods. And without making actual sales and earning some actual money, handicrafters get discouraged and stop coming. We'd love to have more handicrafters selling, but if people aren't buying... well you get it, right?
The main rules regarding what can be sold are:
1) The items for sale have to be produced by the seller. That means - if you grow it, bake it or make it yourself, you can sell it yourself. But you can't sell retail - buy stuff from someone else and sell it at our market.
2) It has to be local, and for the definition of local we use "made within the great state of Kansas".
3) There also some health-related rules regarding what types of baked and canned goods can be sold - too length to go into here.
If you'd like a complete list of EFM regulations, I can email them to you. Just contact me at tlcfh@yahoo.com.
If you'd like to subscribe to our free weekly email newsletter, which details what is for sale at the market each week, send me an email and I'll put you on the list!
As for a flea market, I know there are other farmers' markets that do that sometimes -like City Market in KC does it once or twice a year - but that doesn't fit with our producer-only rule.
Here in Emporia, we have the Emporia Main Street-sponsored Great American Market. Once a year. First Saturday in September (the 6th this year). It will be a great day with lots of homemade handicrafts, flea market type items, various retailers, food, beverages, entertainment and activities for the kids (of all ages). If you haven't been to the GAM in the past, do check it out. There is literally something (and for most of us, many many things) for everybody! The FM will also be open that morning, but will not go all day like the GAM will.
July 8, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Can you sell live animals at the market?
July 8, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
traceygraham (Tracey Graham) says...
Weltha- now there's a question I can't quite answer. At least not definitively.
I've checked at the state level for regulations regarding live-animal sales at farmers' markets and was told that as long as the animals have been checked and certified (or apporved, or cleared, or something - I can't recall the terminology) by a veterinarian, it's OK.
BUT - They also said to check at the local level for local regulations. And because the question didn't come up again, and I got busy doing a bunch of other things, I never did get around to checking with local officials.
The FM board has not established a policy regarding live animal sales at the market, mainly because we haven't gotten around to finding out whether it's legal or not.
July 9, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Thanks Tracey.
July 9, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lyoncountywoman (anonymous) says...
Here is a little background on recent topics. The market has held flea markets at the farmers' market in the past. We held them once a month for a summer in the early 90's. They didn't go over very well. It didn't enhance the market or bring in new market shoppers.
As for the selling of live animals, that was prohibited. I don't remember if it was the city or the health department but I do know the market has looked into the issue in the past.
We use to do the recipe idea, demonstrations and free drawings of market goodies and it seemed that regardless of time and effort involved, the folks that shop for local, wonderful produce,baked goods, processed food, frozen meats, eggs, and crafts are there to shop. Perhaps the times have changed and they will be more successful in bringing in a different crowd of shoppers.
The bottom line is, we are very fortunate to have an outlet for local produce and products that provide local people with an alternative way of bringing in extra income.
I love our market, the vendors, and the possibilities it brings to our community.
July 9, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )