The Market in Transition

March 27, 2015

Dear Friends, Vendors, and Patrons of the Walpole Farmers Market (WFM),

I am sending this message out so that everyone would have an idea of what the status is for the Walpole Farmers Market in 2015. Just to review, in 2014, the market saw very little growth, if anything I think there was a decline in patrons, basically there never seemed to be much of a crowd. Despite that we still made some sales, but quite honestly, I don’t think that any of us made the kind of sales that you could describe as sustainable.

Towards the end of the season, as the Market Manager, I started thinking about what could be done to fix or change this. I had conversations with vendors, with Jill Robinson, and with some of the vendors that had helped to launch this market. The conclusion that I came to was that the WFM would not survive another summer if it continued to operate in the same way. We need to either close this market or really look at changing the way it operates. There will not be a Walpole Farmers Market in 2015, but there is a real possibility to restructure this market and re-launch in 2016.

There are several critical items that need to be addressed.
1. A structure of some kind needs to be developed. Volunteer Coordinators are great, but having volunteered for countless hours for the WFM, there is true burn out. A working board of directors with members that know they can come on and then go off on a regular basis makes better sense.
2. Guidelines should be reviewed and reworked.
3. A workable Day of the Week and Time Frame should be established.

On the question of location, we have a generous offer from Tedd Benson, making use of the field space near Carols Ice Cream Scoop Shop. This site should eventually become the home of the Great River Food Coop, it makes sense that the for the WFM to make use of this space and then be dovetailed into the development of the Coop. Or we can just stay on the Common the town would be supportive of that. But to do any of this in 2015 or 2016 means some changes.

As you know, Jill Robinson stepped aside last year, and I would now like to step aside too, as Market Manager. Jill and I are willing to be the “keepers of the WFM gear” (Bank acct, EBT Stuff, tents, tables, signs, website). For the market to move forward some others are going to have to step forward to shoulder some of the responsibilities for crafting a new plan for the market.

Clai Lasher, was a vendor last summer, she is very interested in supporting the WFM thru this transition. The board members of the Great River Food Coop are too. If you would like to see the WFM return, and you are willing to help, even in a small way, please let us know.

Just so you know I have reserved the town common on November 21st, so that the WFM can be a part of the church fairs that day, and I can look into booking the town hall if there is interest in a December Holiday Market. I figure by that time if we know what is going to happen in 2016 we should be able to start getting the word out.

The WFM website will still function, with vendor info. Any vendor who has participated in the market is invited to check out their info, make sure it is still up to date. If you were previously a vendor and would like to be listed as a vendor of farm products etc, then send an email with the following: Name of Business, your name, your location, what you are selling, and email or phone contact info. This can be sent to jill@walpolefarmersmarket.com

Thanks for your interest in the Walpole Farmers Market,

With best regards,

Holly Gowdy
Holly@walpolefarmersmarket.com