On the coldest morning I have experienced this October I find myself in the middle of downtown Lexington, on Vine Street to be more specific, at the Lexington Kentucky’s Farmers Market. As I sit at a nearby bus stop I watch the morning unfold.
Being only 6:45 the parking lot that was once empty is now beginning to fill up with vehicles. Ranging from the oldest ford bronco I have ever seen to brand new trucks and trailers, the products are brought in many ways. The most interesting to me was a completely restored flat bed ford, looking to be an antique more so than a work truck. But never the less its bed is loaded down with local sweet corn grown a few miles away in Georgetown. As the lot began to fill, the sun was fully visible and beginning to warm the October morning.
With the lot full the vendors are now setting up tables and displays to attract customers. With it being October I have never seen so many pumpkins in my life. Being I have never been to the Lexington Farmers Market on Saturday, I had no idea the amount of free tasting samples available, which I took full advantage of. As the vendors began to finish setting up the last of the late coming vendors pull in to the few available parking spots left, and customers begin to show up.
Considering the temperature I was surprised to see this large of a turn out. But after asking around I found out that this was one of the last weekends that the market would have anything that was fresh enough to show up for. Also I learned that the earlier the better at the market. Arriving early ensured you the cream of the crop, being as the best obviously gets picked up first.
Observing the people I noticed a wide range of diversity. For the most part it was older men and women, nit picking through everything before they buy, families picking up anything from pumpkins, to fresh homemade bread, or younger people that seemed to be concerned about their diet as they looked through the many organic, and non-pesticide items available.
But the biggest thing I notice was all the socializing going on. Between fellow shoppers, or the shoppers and the vendors, this was like now super market I have ever been to; there is a much closer bond between the provider, and the consumer, which I thought was great. This was a great experience that I will never forget.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
#2 answered interview questions
Answered by Abigail, of Abigail's Honey
- What are the top five reasons you should shop at the farmers market?
Support local farmers, support local economy, great products, great prices, great atmosphere
- What would you like to change about the Market if you could?
better location, larger, more participants
- Who goes to this place? Who doesn’t? Why?
People that were taken to the market when they were younger usually tend to shop here when they are older as well. People that don’t know about it don’t come, because they are uninformed.
- What would Lexington be like without this place?
Honestly, not much different, but many farmers would lose their direct connection with their customers and that is a highly valued relationship that should always be present for many reasons. If you are going to buy anything, it should be from someone you trust, especially if you’re going to eat it.
- Aside from the products the people may purchase, what else do customers gain from going to the Farmer’s Market?
- How did you become involved in the Lexington Farmers Market?
- Have you participated in other Markets?
Nope, been coming here my whole life, participated in some other flee markets from time to time, but this is home
- What are the top five reasons you should shop at the farmers market?
Support local farmers, support local economy, great products, great prices, great atmosphere
- What would you like to change about the Market if you could?
better location, larger, more participants
- Who goes to this place? Who doesn’t? Why?
People that were taken to the market when they were younger usually tend to shop here when they are older as well. People that don’t know about it don’t come, because they are uninformed.
- What would Lexington be like without this place?
Honestly, not much different, but many farmers would lose their direct connection with their customers and that is a highly valued relationship that should always be present for many reasons. If you are going to buy anything, it should be from someone you trust, especially if you’re going to eat it.
- Aside from the products the people may purchase, what else do customers gain from going to the Farmer’s Market?
- How did you become involved in the Lexington Farmers Market?
- Have you participated in other Markets?
Nope, been coming here my whole life, participated in some other flee markets from time to time, but this is home
First interview
Primary Research: Possible Interview Questions: answered by Richard Elmwood, Elmwood’s Farms
- How long have you been involved in the Lexington Farmers Market?
15 some odd years
- What role does the market play in your life? Has it changed any since you began participating in it? If so how?
Main source of income, used to just be a hobby and a place to bring vegetables from the garden.
- How has the market changed over time?
Become larger as far as the number of people that participate in it. More diverse crowd.
- What benefits do you think people get from using the market as a food resource?
They support the local economy as well as the small farmers opposed to the large industrial farms that the super market supports.
- How does the market affect the local economy?
It purely boosts it, local people spending their money on goods grown locally, then that money stays in the area rather than being disbursed somewhere else.
- Does the market raise any conflict or controversy? If so how and why?
Not to my knowledge
- What role did the market play in the past?
Same as the present, best place to get local food that is healthier, tastier, and better than anything available in the super market.
- What are you views on organic agriculture verse non-organic agriculture? Which do you practice?
Organic agriculture is a more sustainable agriculture for the long run and has a much lesser impact on the environment. I practice organic agriculture for many reasons, and if you taste any of my products you can tell it is the way to go.
- How long have you been involved in the Lexington Farmers Market?
15 some odd years
- What role does the market play in your life? Has it changed any since you began participating in it? If so how?
Main source of income, used to just be a hobby and a place to bring vegetables from the garden.
- How has the market changed over time?
Become larger as far as the number of people that participate in it. More diverse crowd.
- What benefits do you think people get from using the market as a food resource?
They support the local economy as well as the small farmers opposed to the large industrial farms that the super market supports.
- How does the market affect the local economy?
It purely boosts it, local people spending their money on goods grown locally, then that money stays in the area rather than being disbursed somewhere else.
- Does the market raise any conflict or controversy? If so how and why?
Not to my knowledge
- What role did the market play in the past?
Same as the present, best place to get local food that is healthier, tastier, and better than anything available in the super market.
- What are you views on organic agriculture verse non-organic agriculture? Which do you practice?
Organic agriculture is a more sustainable agriculture for the long run and has a much lesser impact on the environment. I practice organic agriculture for many reasons, and if you taste any of my products you can tell it is the way to go.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Possible Interview Questions
Primary Research: Possible Interview Questions:
- How long have you been involved in the Lexington Farmers Market?
- What role does the market play in your life? Has it changed any since you began participating in it? If so how?
- How has the market changed over time?
- What benefits do you think people get from using the market as a food resource?
- How does the market affect the local economy?
- Does the market raise any conflict or controversy? If so how and why?
- What role did the market play in the past?
- What are you views on organic agriculture verse non-organic agriculture? Which do you practice?
- Where do you see the Farmer’s Market in 20 years?
- What does the farmers market mean to today’s average family compared to families 40years ago? 80 years?
- What are the top five reasons you should shop at the farmers market?
- What would you like to change about the Market if you could?
- Who goes to this place? Who doesn’t? Why?
- What would Lexington be like without this place?
- Aside from the products the people may purchase, what else do customers gain from going to the Farmer’s Market?
- How did you become involved in the Lexington Farmers Market?
- Have you participated in other Markets?
- How does the Lexington Farmers Market compare to previous markets, if applicable?
- Tell me about your favorite Lexington Farmers Market experience?
- Any not so favorite experiences?
- What products might I find here that I couldn’t find anywhere else if any?
- What would you like to say to anyone interested in the Lexington Farmers Market?
- How long have you been involved in the Lexington Farmers Market?
- What role does the market play in your life? Has it changed any since you began participating in it? If so how?
- How has the market changed over time?
- What benefits do you think people get from using the market as a food resource?
- How does the market affect the local economy?
- Does the market raise any conflict or controversy? If so how and why?
- What role did the market play in the past?
- What are you views on organic agriculture verse non-organic agriculture? Which do you practice?
- Where do you see the Farmer’s Market in 20 years?
- What does the farmers market mean to today’s average family compared to families 40years ago? 80 years?
- What are the top five reasons you should shop at the farmers market?
- What would you like to change about the Market if you could?
- Who goes to this place? Who doesn’t? Why?
- What would Lexington be like without this place?
- Aside from the products the people may purchase, what else do customers gain from going to the Farmer’s Market?
- How did you become involved in the Lexington Farmers Market?
- Have you participated in other Markets?
- How does the Lexington Farmers Market compare to previous markets, if applicable?
- Tell me about your favorite Lexington Farmers Market experience?
- Any not so favorite experiences?
- What products might I find here that I couldn’t find anywhere else if any?
- What would you like to say to anyone interested in the Lexington Farmers Market?
Friday, October 10, 2008
#1 secondary research
# 1- Secondary Research
From my textual research I have learned a lot about the Lexington Farmer’s Market and its purpose in the community today. For starters the main goals of the market are as follows…
- Permanent site for downtown markets
- Pavilion market with roof
- Electricity available to the farmers
- Clean water available to the farmers
- Bathrooms for our customers
- Better parking
- Beautifully landscaped
- Room for 100 farmers
- Demonstration area for cooking/gardening
- On-site office for staff
- Walk-in storage cooler for farmers
- Place for customers to eat
- Benches for customers to rest
- Certified kitchen for our farmers
- Year-round market
- An evening market
- More neighborhood satellite markets…
With these goals in mind the Lexington Farmers Market is bound for success. To make these goals a reality you as the consumer need to come out and support this market, and by doing so you are going to benefit in these ways..
· Support the local economy
· Conserve fuel energy
· Preserve farmland
· Eat healthier
· Keep the growing of local foods alive
· Help farmers get a fair price for their product
· Keep your food money in Kentucky
· Support the Lexington Farmers Market as an independent business
Also the Lexington Farmers Market has been an agricultural cooperative since 1975. The 65 farmers own the cooperative and pay fees of approximately $85,000 to run this business which includes staff, site rental fees, portable toilets, taxes, legal fees, CPA fees, office expenses, signs and all the other expenses of running a business. When they pay these fees it allows them to hold slots in the market, allowing them to sell their goods to consumers.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Introduction
this once was a place of social gathering, necessity,and profit, today it is the same but not as poplar, this is the farmers market, for me specifically the Lexington farmers market. the farmers market is a great resource that is not used as often as it should be. this is because of the fact that many one stop shop grocery stores are now available. i believe to support the local economy, eat healthier, and save gas for food transportation, the market should be utilized much more often.
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