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  • From: "John Drury" <jbd3 AT hughes.net>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Grower Only Farmers Markets
  • Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:55:35 -0600


Thought I would pass along the following to see if there's any useful info.
John Drury
Fresh Harvest Cooperative
9407 McFarlin Rd.
Bon Aqua, TN 37025
jbd3 AT hughes.net
www.freshharvestcoop.com

http://www.franklinfarmersmarket.com/home.asp
The Franklin Farmers' Market in Franklin, Tennessee is a true farmer's market. We do not allow food brokers into the market. The market is what it says it is: A real farmers' market. Our farmers sow it & grow it and our customers eat & enjoy it. Because the market features only locally grown food, customers can ask the farmers questions about the produce, veggies, fruits and other farm goods for sale & know exactly which farm the food came from and how it was produced. The Franklin Farmers' Market is a non-profit organization with 3 easy to understand goals:
Keep local family farms productive and growing. Offer the public easy access to real food straight from local farms. And educate the public about the importance of farming and how it affects both environmental and economic issues in Tennessee. Productive farmland is a limited and irreplaceable natural resource. The Franklin Farmers' Market works to protect it. No farms equals No food. It's that simple.



The market began five years ago with only 8 local farmers. Now the market features over 45 different farms, with new farmers asking for information or a booth at the market each year. The market had to work to get farmers to participate and used several venues in order to do so. To get the farmers' attention, we worked with the state ag department. They were able to provide us with a list of working farms and they helped to get the word out to farmers regarding the establishment of the market. We also worked to get media attention about the market and while most of that came initially came under pubic service announcements, it still helped to get the word out. We sent information on the market to such businesses as farmers' co-ops and worked to get market info out to city officials. The market management consists of one paid manager, a board made up mostly of farmers plus volunteers. After the first year of the market, word of mouth helped to gain more farmers' to the market. Part of the hesitation of farmers to become a part of the market had to do with whether or not this was a real farmers market that would become a stable, dependable venue with only farmers selling fresh produce, etc. That concern came in part because of a nearby large "farmers" market that featured mostly food brokers. While our market allows a small number of local crafts people, the main focus of the market is and will continue to be Tennessee farmers.



Each farmer has to get a farm certificate from their local county extension agent. Market management makes periodic visits to the farms to take a look at the farm operations. Farms at the market must be within a 150 mile radius of the market. And we rely on the farmers too, as they can give info on farms not following market policies or provide info on farms that may be interested in being at the market.



Booth sizes range in size and prices. We try to keep the prices of booths low for the farms. Farmers can purchase a booth space for the entire season of the market or booth space for market days on a per need basis. Farmers can also sell the produce of another Tennessee farm, but they must have a farming certificate from that farm and they must tell customers where that produce was raised. They can sell the produce of only one other farm in addition to their own products.



The success of the market comes from word of mouth and constant efforts to get media attention for the market and/or participating farmers. The market also conducts a steady stream of info to the public via brochures, website and creative signage to get the market's goals out in attention-getting materials. The market also participates in some local events, such as the annual garden & flower show, allowing us to target an audience already interested in gardening. Typically, most of these events have a few spaces for local non-profit organizations.



It is a constant effort to keep the market top of the mind with both the public and the farmers. The market has been very successful in that effort, even though the organization operates on a small budget. Most of the financial aid comes booth rentals, state grants and a very good rental rate on our facility. But the largest part of the market's success comes from staying true to our slogan:








----- Original Message ----- From: "Allan Balliett" <aballiett AT frontiernet.net>
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 8:15 AM
Subject: [Market-farming] Grower Only Farmers Markets


I'm really interested in talking our town council into supporting a
grower only market here. Although I can find many grower only markets
advertised on the web, I can't seem to find any succinct 'grower only
market' philosophy laid out, something that I could show the town
council, something about how supporting local growers is good for the
entire community. I thought there was actually a 'grower only market'
advocacy group operating out of PA, but I haven't been able to find
hide-nor-hair of that group.

Can anyone help?

thanks

_Allan Balliett
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