Market Farming

["Susan Houghton" <susangivingtree AT earthlink.net>]

We started a whole new market in downtown Lansing in 2003.  A small parking 
lot, 3 farmers to start.  We used a neighborhood center to attract 
attention, to get the word out about how important locally grown food, 
minimally processed, yada...yada..

We involved local extension educators, who welcomed the extra venue for 
answering questions, getting in touch with "real" people.......etc.

One of the first things we accomplished was to have the ability to accept 
food stamps. The federal government was suprisingly cooperative........so we 
have "market money" distributed by an EBT machine, a special set up  so that 
the food stamps can only be spent on food.

I understand there are now machines that work off wireless phone technology, 
expensive!, but doable.  (think the machine is $175 for wireless type 
connections.)

Then we got local artisans to come. One group is the young people singing or 
playing instruments, schools have vied for a place to present plays, or 
skits,   Someone/group is always at teh market.

It has become a middle of the week socail event.....way beyound the market 
itself.........

People in the neighborhoods put up signs in their yards (like the ones real 
estate agents use) telling when the market is, where it is,

Young people (14-16) help people carry things at the market.  There is a 
childrens corner where someone reads food related books to young children, 
they have clay to play with, supervision while parents shop.

Last year (4 years into the market) we had 700 customers on a Wednesday PM 
from 2:30 to 6:30.  Now the whole parking lot is "owned" by the farmer's 
market on Wednesday afternoon, we have a waiting list of farms, and 12 
farmers are participating.

We formed a steering committee with farmers and consumers, and they all have 
input into what they need from the market.  this year's plan for expansion 
includes a year round market (or as close as we can come).  We limit the 
amount of produce that can be purchased and resold.....and then the market 
master keeps an eye on what is feasible.

Susan
Lansing MI


> > Our Farmers' Market has been going for several years now, but has always
> > suffered from poor participation.  It's the old chicken and the egg
> > problem.
> > We need customers but they don't come because there's not enough variety
> > at
> > the Market and farmers don't come because there's not enough people to 
> > buy
> > their produce!!!  So here's one idea to get people to come to the Market
> > and
> > keep coming back.
> > Thanks
> > TxBeeFarmer (Mark)
> > West Texas Zone 7b
> >
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> >
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