Farmers Market

The closest farmer’s market to where I live is about 40 minutes away, on the ‘other side’ of Warm Springs Mountain. Not many on this side make is over there, especially when gas prices are high. There is now talk to have a market for those on this side, however a few items need to be ironed out/defined first. These include:

• hours of operation
• what do we want it to ‘look like’
• vendor rules
• vendor fees?
• advertising

The Dairy would be the perfect place and the executive director said the Dairy could provide tables as long as someone comes to set up, break down, etc. They may even have a little money to donate for advertising. My questions are:

1. How many of you have vended at a farmer’s market?
2. What were some of the rules you had to agree to?
3. What about fees? Did you have to pay to vend? If so, what amount?
4. What were the hours of operation?
5. Was there a certain ‘look’ you needed to maintain?

The Dairy’s director has too much on her plate, atm, to set this up so I am going to try my hand at it and hopefully the others that expressed a desire to be involved will share in the work.

What would you suggest? Right now, since gardens are beginning to come in, produce should not be a problem – what types of prices are considered ‘normal’? What about other items? It has been so long since I’ve been to a large farmer’s market that I am unsure of what to include.