Transcript What’s Cooking at the Farmer’s Market?”

Lenoir County Farmer’s Market
Revitalization
Community Based Food Systems
Lenoir County Farmers Market Revitalization
Project Goals
• Establish the Lenoir County Farmer’s Market as a
“destination” place to be
• Create opportunities for farmers to sell direct to consumers
in cities or neighborhoods where access to fresh, local
produce is limited.
• Recruit local food producers to serve on the Farmer’s
Market Advisory Board
Lenoir County Farmers Market Revitalization
Project Goals
• Develop stronger farm and community connections in order
to better meet the demand for local produce.
• Make Farmer’s Market improvements and upgrades to
facility , structurally and aesthetically
• Procure a seasonal part time Market Manager
• Revitalize Farmer’s Market Rules and
Lenoir County Farmer’s Market Revitalization
Project Partners
Leaders
Tammy Kelly, Lenoir County Extension Director
Mark Seitz, Area Agent Commercial Horticulture and Marketing, NC Cooperative Extension
Pat Jenkins, Lenoir County Farmer’s Market Manager
Community Partners
Walter Adams, NC A&T State University Agriculture Technician
Ben Knight & Vivian Howard – co-owners The Chef & The Farmer Restaurant
Adrian King – Pride of Kinston Downtown Economic Development Chairperson
Laura Lee Sylvester – Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce, President
Lucy Marsten – Lenoir County Tourism Director
Steve Putnam – Putnam Family Farms, Kinston, NC
Warren Brothers – Brothers Farms, LaGrange, NC
Linda Brandt – Lenoir Memorial Hospital
“What’s Cooking at the Farmer’s Market?”
Project Results
•The Lenoir County Farmer’s Market enjoyed four-fold
growth in its 30-week 2010 season
•The Community-Based Food System Team, focused on
looking for ways to support the NC 10% Buy Local
Foods Initiative, and,
•Helped to establish a Farmer’s Market Advisory
Committee of key community leaders to set new
policies for the Market, thus prompting area food
producers to participate in the Market.
“What’s Cooking at the Farmer’s Market?”
Project Results
•A Pride of Kinston Façade Grant matched by Lenoir County
provided basic landscaping and repairs.
•The resulting increase from 4 to 15 vendors prompted County
government to contract a 16 hours/week Market manager to manage
site operations, monitor members, and recruit new vendors
•Two series of Cooking Demonstrations added to the Market
customer base while teaching the public to cook and eat healthy and
purchase from the Lenoir County Farmer’s Market
•The increased activity made obvious the need for major
renovations; the parking lot’s condition deterred some potential
customers and is a liability for vendors. The vendors, meeting with
Market management, have expressed their appreciation for the new
Market management, and asked unanimously for an additional
market day.
Lenoir County Farmer’s Market Revitalization
“What’s Cooking at the Farmer’s Market?”
Demo #1--Bill Tsao
stir fried everything at
the market! Allowed the
children to pick out
“mystery vegetables” to
cook and taste!
“What’s Cooking at the Farmer’s Market?”
Lessons Learned
•Fostering community relationships is critical, especially within the
general area
•As the Farmer’s Market customer and vendor numbers increase so do
the needs of the Market
•Marketing the market is essential! Providing community activities
that create additional audiences is a great way to increase customer
base.
•Support of County Government will be a great asset.