Market Farming

["Lynn Wigglesworth" <lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com>]

> We do live in an area with a college town nearby and that has made
> all the difference for our business. We started trying to make a
> living in the town nearest to us (and where my husband's alma mater
> is located). Not enough interest in local foods I believe because the
> education level was pretty low other than the few folks' from Earlham
> that supported us. When a market opened up in the college town where
> i grew up and where my alma mater is located things Things started
> getting a lot better for us and we were able to quit our part time
> day jobs and focus on the farm. A second farmers market opened up in
> this town (which I was involved in creating and sat on the board for
> 2.5 years) on Saturdays that is a great market with tons of support,
> good management and exceptional growth.

I wonder what make a good area for local food? Why are some areas
supportive and others not? I live in a rural area (my town, the county
seat, has about 3,000 people), and there isn't much interest in local
food. Some friends and I formed a group to support and educate about local
food, but it was always the same small group of people who showed
interest.The vendors in my county's Farmers Markets are lucky to make $50
on market day...there were days when some vendors didn't make enough to
cover the $5 vendors' fee. Clearly something is wrong, but I don't know
how to fix it.

Lynn Wigglesworth
Peasant Farmer
Tioga County, PA