Plymouth Farmers Market Season Grows Thanks To Local Businesses

Community members were the driving force for the creation of the Plymouth Farmers Market. Now in its second year, community members have stepped forward to improve it even more.

“This is a great community event, which provides local patrons the opportunity to buy fresh, local products and learn more about shopping local,” said Plymouth Recreation Supervisor Alyssa Krumholz. “They are also able to connect with the people producing the products they purchase at the market.”

This year the market’s hours were adjusted and the season extended. City staff received feedback from vendors and patrons about previous evening hours being too close to dusk as it became darker earlier in the fall. The hours are now 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. compared to 3 to 7 p.m. in 2010 on Wednesdays in the parking lot of the Ice Center.

Five more weeks have been added to this year’s market season, which was a request from both vendors and patrons also. The 2011 market season began July 6 and lasts until Oct. 12.

The first Plymouth Farmers Market started July 7, 2010, and drew in more than 6,500 patrons in the first season, Krumholz said.

“Several Minneapolis suburbs were making efforts to have city farmers markets,” Krumholz said. “After the city’s Plymouth Parks and Recreation staff researched other markets and met with other market managers, the Plymouth City Council approved a budget for the first Plymouth Farmers Market in 2010.”

This year’s time adjustment and season extension were made possible with revenue from the Farmers Market vendor stalls, city recreation budget and additional business sponsorships. The Mosaic Company, HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab, Tom Spears Construction and TCF Bank sponsored the extension of the market season.

“Plymouth Parks and Recreation has created a sponsorship drive where we send out information to local businesses who may be interested in providing sponsorship for programs and special events,” Krumholz said. “Their sponsorship contributions assist us in providing further operating supplies and advertising efforts.”

Development and staffing are the main costs with the farmers market, she said.

“We also incur equipment and supply cost, as well as advertising [costs] such as marketing signs and banners,” Krumholz said. “The approximate [total cost] for the regular market season is $5,500. Additional marketing and theme night costs vary.”

Vendor applications are both mailed out and made available online in late January. The city invites the previous year’s vendors to reapply and seek new vendors by looking at other local farmer’s markets and through interest received throughout the season from potential vendors who attend the market as patrons.     

The market has about the same number of vendors as last year, approximately 28 total. All of the vendors come from with in a 50-mile radius of Plymouth.

Christa Niznik with HealthSource said the farmer’s market represents much of what the chiropractic business is all about.

“Since we are a chiropractic office we are focused on natural remedies and products,” Niznik said. “The farmer’s market offers the community what we stand for—quality, natural food and products. It is also a great way for local businesses to support each other.”

Farmers markets are also a great way to get local businesses spotlighted, she said.

“Many offer high quality products that you can’t get elsewhere,” Niznik said. “It’s important for the community to have natural options that at the same time support their local community.”

Niznik and others with the HealthSource were glad to partner with the business community and city to help improve the market experience.

“What the market was lacking was the funds to be able to rent out the facility and maintain the market for a longer period of time and we were happy to offer a financial sponsorship,” Niznik said.

Niznik and others at HealthSource frequent the market themselves.

“We all like being able to meet the local community and other businesses in the area,” she said.

One more new aspect of the market this year is theme nights, which were also requested by the vendors and the public, Krumholz said. The remaining theme nights include an antique car show July 27 and “Nutrition Night” Aug. 17 with nutritional information and handouts available to the public. 

“I think it’s important for Plymouth to have a farmers market because it not only provides residents the opportunity to shop for a variety of fresh, local products, but also buy directly from Minnesota Grown farmers and producers, supporting our local economy, which is a mutually rewarding experience for both local vendors and residents of the community,” Krumholz said.