Hi,
As one who has sold at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market(and other NM
Farmer's Markets )and has helped count folks coming through can tell you
there is definitely a seasonable flux in numbers that come through the
markets.5,000 is on average for that market and if you contact the Friends
of the Santa Fe Market you would likely see a rise in the average count due
to current conditions here in NM. You'll also see that the average travel
time may have also grown as more people are coming from farther away to take
advantage of the many unique venders that often can be found there.
Pat Maas
Earthwalker Farm
McIntosh, NM
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 22:55:05 -0600
From: "paul" <charybda@newmex.com>
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Shoppers "flock" to farmers' markets
To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
This study is encouraging and very misleading. The study is about people's
preferences and not about their actions. While in the study 30% "preferred"
buying direct from farmers or at farmers markets, in my experience of
selling
my produce at farmers markets, we don't even get close to 10% of the
population
coming through any of the markets in my region. If you think about a city of
500,000 people, would it even be possible for 150,000 people to get through
a
farmers market on a Saturday morning? Impossible. That's more people than
fit
in any football stadium.
The city of Santa Fe, New Mexico USA sees about 5,000 people through a
market
peak season. The population is 70,000 and the market draws from a larger
surrounding area not in that count.
Paul Cross