August 7th, 2024
By Rachel Newcomb
Community is Ripe for the Picking at your Local Farmers Market
If you enjoy visiting your local farmers market, have you ever considered why? Maybe it’s seeing all the fresh fruit displayed under the tents of many colors, feeling the just-harvested vegetables in your hands as you make your selection, or something else? For me, these reasons -and so many more- are part of why I shop at my local market. But truly, the most compelling part to me is the feeling of gathering, nourishment, and community.
Starting a weekend morning at the market provides a sense of relaxation and enjoyment while checking off one of the most crucial items on our weekly to-do list: get groceries. Unlike heading to the store, choosing to go to the farmers market lets us meet and get to know the people who grow our food. In a world dominated by online shopping, contactless delivery, and self-checkouts, the farmers market preserves the uniqueness of building and maintaining relationships with local producers and benefitting from the nourishment of fruits, veggies, meat, dairy, and baked goods produced in our same zip code or the next one over.
I had the opportunity this summer during the 2024 America’s Farmers Market Celebration™ (AFMC) season to represent AFT at three markets in Colorado, the state that has recently become home after decades of living in many other places. One of the first things I do when I move somewhere new is figure out when and where the farmers market happens. This is my go-to place to start building community and feel grounded. This summer, that place was the Palisade Sunday Farmers Market in Palisade, CO, just a ten-minute drive away from home. This market won second place in Colorado during the 15th annual AFMC in 2023. Although the famed Palisade Peaches were not yet in season when I was there in June, I had been looking forward to experiencing my new “home” market. The feeling of sharing the work and mission of AFT with my new local community was one of pride.
I also popped up on a bluebird Saturday morning at the Louisville Farmers Market in Louisville, CO, which was voted number one farmers market in the state for both the 2023 and 2024 AFMC seasons. I had the chance to speak with the Market Manager, Kelly Miller, who started this market sixteen years ago. I wanted to learn about how this market went from brand new to first in the state in just over a decade and a half. Kelly explained, “When my son and youngest child started kindergarten, I wanted to take on something that would be a personal passion and a contribution to my community. I started with 8 tents in 2008 and have slowly and deliberately grown this into an amazing farmers market that supports 95+ vendors weekly. The fact that so many think this is the best market around makes me feel honored to have the opportunity to do what I love and provide an incredible shopping experience to this community and beyond.”
When asked to elaborate on her favorite part of being the Market Manager, Kelly said it is witnessing the relationships that are created. “I love how much the community values the farmers market and how it is a gathering place for friends and neighbors. I love the relationships between the vendors and how they source and trade products to create their market offerings. Farmers markets are important to establish a direct relationship between consumer to producer. They are important to the local economy as they keep dollars in our town. They provide the freshest and healthiest food options available. They keep food miles low, which has a positive impact on the environment. They also support local musicians, artists, and area businesses.”
As I strolled through the market near closing, I observed many vendors engaging with their booth neighbors. Some exchanged items not sold that day, while others talked and laughed with each other. The energy throughout the market was calm and friendly.
Before I wrapped up my conversation with Kelly, she introduced me to her son Luke who was stationed at the market info booth answering questions from visitors and passing out cards encouraging marketgoers to vote for their market in the AFMC. I was curious what it meant to Kelly that her son and daughter both support market operations. She said, “[Luke] was here as a kid because he had to be…today he chooses to work here and is an incredible asset. His older sister Hannah was ten when I started the market. Hannah has been doing all our art and design work since then and continues to do so to this day. I love having them a part of our family business. The pride and integrity they take in the market makes me incredibly happy and we can all take credit for its growth and success.”
I turned to Luke to get his take of his experience of being raised in a farmers market. He shared, “I was six years old when my mother started the Louisville Farmers Market, and it has been a routine part of my summers since I can remember. My friends growing up would also get involved, which always made the work much more fun. Growing up in the market taught me a good work ethic, the value of money, and many more useful life skills I am very thankful for today.”
As someone raised by a parent who founded and directed a small non-profit, I connected closely with Luke’s account of his experiences helping with tasks from a young age. For me, that looked like folding newsletters, helping out during volunteer days, and being my mom’s right hand at fundraisers, and for Luke that was unloading produce from a truck in exchange for five dollars and a watermelon when they were in season, and as he grew older, assembling the tents and placing heavy barricades to close off the streets. Now, as an adult, Luke is stepping into bigger shoes. He has been learning all the ins and outs of running a farmers market and how much effort goes into curating a fulfilling experience. He said, “I now see the market as a family business, and truly as a real job.”
Listening to Kelly and Luke’s experiences and insights hit home for me about why AFT continues the AFMC campaign each year. Farmers markets are such positive spaces that have real impacts for vendors and customers alike. As Luke puts it, “Farmers markets are important to the community for having a place where everyone can gather, even if it’s not to shop. I see and hear many people come down to see their neighbors and friends, or just to hang out and listen to live music. They help many small or just starting businesses, [too]. I’ve seen many products in stores that started out just selling here. Just the other night, I went to a pizza place in the town that uses only locally sourced ingredients. Three of the products listed I recognized as old and current vendors at the Louisville Farmers Market.”
I encourage you the next time you visit your farmers market to take a moment and consider how it feels to be there. I can almost guarantee you’ll leave feeling replenished in more ways than one.
Want to support your local farmers market? Check out our nationwide farmers market database to locate the market nearest you!