Re: farmers' markets - can you help?

Gretchen E Becker (gretchen3@juno.com)
Mon, 06 Jan 1997 15:48:37 EST

I'm not sure if the Farmers Market in Brattleboro, Vermont, would satisfy
any of these specialty requirements, but it is very successful. It began
with two or three farmers selling lettuce and zucchini out of the back of
their pickup trucks but kept growing and now has a large number of booths
selling ethnic foods (Asian, Middle Eastern, French pastry, etc.) as well
as organic vegetables, a few organic meats, locally made cheese, and
crafts. You now have to be approved by the board of directors to join,
and there is competition for the booth spaces. All products must be
locally grown or produced.

I used to market handmade felt hats there, so I followed the traffic
flow. Local people arrive at 9 a.m., load up on vegetables, and go home.
Then there's a lull. Then around 11 a.m. the recreational shoppers arrive
with their families, buy lunch, browse the crafts, and sit at tables and
enjoy the live music that is provided while their children play in the
sandboxes or watch the live animals that are sometimes provided.

Many people bring out-of-town guests, who buy crafts as well as lunch.

You could say it's aimed at a specific ethnic group: Yankees.

I've also seen the FM in Ithaca, NY. This one is different in that it
built a permanent shelter, so it is easier on the vendors in bad weather.
I think it also stays open later into the winter.

Gretchen