The Paris Farmer’s Market recruiting effort to find more produce vendors for the 2012 season kicks off on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 with a Farmer’s Market Forum.
The Forum will be held in City Council Chambers at 107 E. Kaufman Street, downtown Paris at 6 p.m. The meeting, which is open to the public, is designed to answer questions about selling at the Market Square Farmer’s Market. A presentation will highlight the Farmer’s Markets’ direction and guidelines for the year and will answer such questions as; who can sell at the market, what products can be sold there, and what the application process is.
Market Director, Cheri Bedford will host the forum with several members of the Farmers Market Volunteer Committee to share their experiences as market vendors.
The goal of the forum is to encourage new vendors to join the market to help meet the growing customer demand for fresh and local products. “We are inviting local produce growers to come and learn about selling their seasonal fruits and vegetables at this year’s market.” Ms. Sherri Bedford, director of the Paris Farmers Market said. By sharing their ideas and expertise the current vendors hope to recruit several new produce sellers.
By facilitating direct sales from grower to consumer, The Paris Farmers’ Market Committee sees an opportunity to support small and beginning growers, who are often unable to compete in conventional marketing arena. New farmers can “grow their business” from the bottom up, and learn the skills they need to be successful along the way.
“We are already working on advertising and promotions for this season and will present some of those ideas at the forum,” said Committee Volunteer & market vendor Evelyn Walker. “Our farmer’s market has such wonderful potential, and we are working hard to get the word out to everyone that the Paris Farmer’s Market is not only a great place to sell your produce each Saturday but also an interesting and fun place to visit each week.”
After a successful 2011 season which ran from May 26th 2011 to October 29th 2011, The Market Square Farmer’s Market opening day for 2012 is Saturday, May 5th, a month earlier than last year.
“We did a survey among the patrons of the market last season,” Walker said, “and all of them expressed an interest in having the market open earlier in the year. Our customers are very committed to shopping at the Farmer’s Market as often as possible.
We are lucky to have such a supportive community in which to grow our market. There is a real opportunity for growers and small farmers at the Market Square Farmer’s Market.”
Produce Vendors Wanted
According to the U S Department of Agriculture, Nationally farmer’s markets continue to rise in popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farmer. As of mid 2011 there were 7,175 farmers markets operating throughout the U. S., a 17% increase from 2010. The National Farmers Directory reveals several states have experienced rapid growth in farmers markets since 2010 and that Alaska and Texas ranked at the top for most growth in farmers markets at 46 and 38 percent respectively.
The benefits of supporting local farmer’s markets are many. Food grown close to home tastes better and the Paris Farmers Market helps the community by providing economic opportunity, promotes public health, helps renew downtown, links rural and urban economies and brings people together.
Shopping the Farmer’s Market reduces packaging costs and landfill waste, helps reduce food transportation miles which helps reduce our dependence on petroleum products; buying locally supports small farms, encourages crop diversification, and encourages environmentally sound farm production practices.
The Paris Farmers Market is a certified market and part of Texas’ “Go Local. Go Texan.” a marketing initiative sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture, whose purpose is to encourage consumers (both within and outside the state of Texas) to seek and purchase Texas-made products.
The Paris Farmer’s Market is located at Market Square, 410 South 1st Street, just off the downtown square in Paris, Texas. It is one of 166 farmer’s markets operating in the State of Texas. Equipped with covered stalls, tables, electricity and water, Market Square is the dedicated site for the Paris Farmer’s market.
The Market Square saw improvements in 2011 including the addition of new grass, the cleaning and painting of the structure and the addition of the Paris Farmer’s Market banners, using artwork create by local artist, Renee Sledge.
Though there is already a high level of awareness among many customers at the Paris Farmers’ Market about the opportunities a farmers’ market provides for supporting smaller and local growers and building a sense of community through food and agriculture, it is an important goal for Paris Farmer’s Market to continue to promote the unique services and experience they can provide to the community. The Community Forum on March 6th is designed to meet this goal.
The Paris Farmer’s Market Volunteer Committee has set up a Facebook page, Market Square Farmers Market – Paris Texas to keep the community updated on the events and promotions taking place at the Market Square Farmers’ Market. Anyone interested in selling at the market should contact Cheri Bedford, Market Director at 903-784-9293 or email her at Cbedford@paristexas.gov.