Welcome To The "Other" Farmers' Markets!
by Market Manager, Penny Peterson
My husband Neil and I are very proud of the two farmers' markets that we own and manage as Nature's Point Markets. After much hard work, many long hours and the awesome participation and support of vendors/growers, visitors and the surrounding community alike, I wanted to share some thoughts on what you can expect at a smaller market.
On any given day, due to weather, vacations, and local activities, the markets have lulls in traffic and sales BUT... the Erie and Lafayette Farmers' Markets each have more and more attendance. People discovering the fresh produce, friendly vendors and enticing variety of products at their local farmers' market. Lafayette is entering it's 5th season of operation, Erie it's fourth.
All our venues offer good web presence, local individual and municipality participation and good traffic exposure. Local newspaper and magazine coverage/advertising is addressed regularly, flyers and handbills are circulated in local businesses, and there is a general excitement by everyone at having their own hometown Farmers Market to walk or ride a bike to. Look for our yard signs directing you to the markets.
These are young markets, so we tell everyone not to expect the crowding of an established venue; (hundreds of people, long lines, and challenging parking) that has taken decades to build. We do provide consistent presence, good products, and friendly and knowledgeable vendors. When you add continual community support, the markets will grow. We invite you to come enjoy the variety, quality, and uniqueness that smaller markets have to offer. We personally are committed to growing good, solid consistent business - good for vendors, shoppers, and your community to enjoy for a long time to come.
Give it a try! Participate this week in your home town farmers market, either as a vendor or as a shopper. Feel good knowing you are making a difference by keeping more revenue in town, on farms, and in local businesses.
Nothing beats local plant starts!
We've got your needs covered! Vegetables and berries, annual and perennial flowers, and herbs. All ready to go into your garden. We even have some trees available. So before you buy plants trucked in, talk to the people who acturally grew the plants so check out what your farmers have grown for you.
Accepting EBT. MasterCard, Visa, and Discover for Market Bucks. Honored by all vendors at the markets.
We now have GIFT CERTIFICATES available to purchase for a someone you think could appreciate a unique gift.
FROM THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GROWERS ASSOCIATION
"Every dollar spent at a locally owned store or farmers markets is spent 6-15 times before it leaves the community. From one dollar, 5-14 dollars in value is created if that dollar stays within the community. Whereas for each dollar spent at a large supermarket chain, 0.80 cents leaves the community immediately. As part of the Buy Local Challenge*, a movement to stimulate support of local economies around the country, in a community of about 300,000 it was calculated that if every household spent just $8.00/week on locally grown farm products for
12 weeks, $54 million could be invested back into the neighboring farms and into the larger economy." Check it out at www.foodroutes.org.
There are small town options for local farmers markets. Natures Point offers two in nearby towns - Lafayette and Erie.Boulder County Farmers Markets - Farmers' Markets - Boulder ...www.getboulder.com/farmers-markets/boulder-county-farmers-mark...
Large and small, established and new, farmers' markets in Boulder County and the ... Boulder Farmers' Market: Saturdays 8am-2pm beginning April 7 and ...
