Toward the fall, Bill and I look back over the season and take stock: what worked, what didn't work, do we stay with this market or try another one, what to plant and where, equipment purchases, etc. We keep records of how we perform in each market to mark growth or if it isn't worth the time, fuel and labor costs to go there. While we mainly look at the current season, I've been comparing our ups & downs from 2005, when we started keeping actual records (before it was just slips of paper, randomly shoved in a drawer).
2008 is our 8th year in this business and not only have we seen growth in our business, but also growth in other farmer's operations and farmer's markets. When we first started, we came to the Bloomington market late in the season (mid-July) in 2000 with just sweet corn and 100 or so cantaloupe. The market was very small with perhaps 15 vendors. It started at the corner of Washington & Main and went the one block to Jefferson Street, where it turned the corner.......and pretty well died. We were on the south corner and Frank Merrick was across the street to our north and some lady selling eggs next to us. Oh, the vendors faced. the. sidewalk. so there was traffic in the streets [
ETA--Elaine has a better memory-the streets WERE blocked--she struggled with the heavy barricades back in the day, so maybe it was THOSE people that thought they were special]......if you were there, you know what I'm talking about. It just didn't hit the right note. What brought us back? The people. We met some really cool and interesting folks that first market and guess what? They came back to see us the next week! They liked our corn! They liked local food! They liked seasonal food!
We got more involved with the development of the Downtown market, as did other farmers, and as a group started making small changes to improve the market and hopefully draw more customers on Saturday mornings. The streets were completely blocked to traffic to allow the vendors to have nicer, more accessible stands and to allow for a more pleasant shopping experience for the customers. Other growers were sought out and encouraged to attend the market, especially if they grew/produced unique items. Artist's Alley was added, making our market unique. Local musical talent stepped up to the plate to entertain all of us and we've also got our own home-grown chef, Nars, who demonstrated how quick and easy it is to shop & cook from you
r local market. This year, the market hours were adjusted a bit to allow more families time to get to the market without having to set an alarm.
The most drastic change was the change to becoming a producer only market: only growers that plant, maintain and harvest their produce were allowed to be vendors. This change has resulted in some of the highest quality local produce anywhere in the country. Out of town shoppers from large cities will tell us how wonderful all the produce looks and tastes and how vibrant the market is, compared to (as I've been informed over the summer) Chicago, Atlanta, LA and Des Moines.
These changes didn't happen overnight and not without growing pains, but not only have the farmers brought their 'A' games, but so have the customers. You guys are great--rain, shine, you've been there! There has been so much focus on local eating, healthy eating, farmer's markets and "killer" foods in the national media recently and our very supportive B-N customers have made sure that they have access to high quality, local, seasonal food. You've also done the green thing and have been bringing your canvas/nylon/re-purposed bags. Not only does it eliminate the over use of plastic, but it is quite a bit easier to haul produce in these bags. It also has kept our input costs down by not ordering as many bags, which in turn reflects in our prices. Very much a win-win.
This season has been FANTASTIC! There have been more of you coming down to the market; many of you bring friends down and introduce them to your favorite vendors; you've brought your out of town guests to the market to show us off; more & more households are doing their weekly shopping at the market; parents are teaching that food doesn't always come from the store or in a plastic wrapper.
For us, August is the 2nd most productive month, following July. We typically have two or three good weeks before school starts, then the market becomes a ghost town--where did everyone go? So far, not this year--the last two weekends the market has been packed with shoppers! It looks like many of you have taken to heart that eating locally is possible, you can eat (very) well and not spend a fortune! We are truly appreciative of all the customers that make the time to shop the market on Saturdays--thank you all for making 2008 a fantastic year.
But!
Don't stop now! Just because we had some wet, rainy, fall, Let's-stay-indoors weather, don't let that stop you. There are lots of Saturdays left and we've got Brand! New! produce from our fall planting is heading your way.
I truly love the fall garden--mostly because I like the hard squashes: butternut, acorn, pumpkin and spaghetti. YUM. These aren't quite ready, but are getting close. The nutritional value in these foods is amazing and I have some good recipes coming for using squashes.
What will we have on the Veggie Wagon tomorrow?
- Sweet corn-almost to the end, probably one more week
- Cantaloupe-this is the last of the summer planting; there is a late patch that is questionable
- Watermelon-we hit the watermelon home run this year--we have lots
- Sweet potatoes-most of these guys are large & in charge--one will feed your whole family
- Yellow squash
- Green beans
- Green Peppers
- Hot peppers
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
We'll be there 7:30 am to noon! See you there! Bill just left town to go pick sweet corn in the mud (thanks, Gustav!)--I know all of you will be thinking of him (I'm still at work!).
