Our Story . . .
It all started with just one question. "Is there interest in having a farmers' market in our community?"
One Facebook post later and we had our answer. "Yes!"
Just weeks after the revealing of the new community brand, we grabbed hold of its catchy concept and ran with it. A grassroots effort sprang up and in just over six weeks, leading up to the 2013 Rushford Days Celebration, we had ourselves a market. With assistance from Rushford City Hall and the Rushford Peterson Valley Chamber of Commerce, we have been able to put together a growing community event.
With 23 registered vendors in our inaugural year, the market offers a wide array of products and services. These include vegetables, fruits, herbs, honey, maple syrup, wild edibles, pastured chicken and turkey, grass-fed beef, home-canned, baked, and dehydrated items, and gluten-free products. Not simply offering foods, our market boasts vendors of cut flowers, annuals, and nursery stock, home and garden decor, goat soap and personal care items, jewelery, fiber, knitted and crocheted items, reed and textile baskets, woodturned items, crafts, and fine art.
“There’s a real desire for people to buy locally. Even more so, we want to see long-term investment from consumers in area farmers and businesses and likewise, our farmers and businesses rooted in the lives of the people within their community.”
A “producers-only” market, all items sold must be grown or produced by the vendor, within a 35-mile radius from Rushford. However, the group has reached out to local businesses as well, so long as the business produces a product locally. “We’ve had local business be very open to the market idea. We want this market to enhance the businesses that are already established and help them find an additional venue for reaching potential customers.”
“Don’t just buy local. Enjoy local.”
One Facebook post later and we had our answer. "Yes!"
Just weeks after the revealing of the new community brand, we grabbed hold of its catchy concept and ran with it. A grassroots effort sprang up and in just over six weeks, leading up to the 2013 Rushford Days Celebration, we had ourselves a market. With assistance from Rushford City Hall and the Rushford Peterson Valley Chamber of Commerce, we have been able to put together a growing community event.
With 23 registered vendors in our inaugural year, the market offers a wide array of products and services. These include vegetables, fruits, herbs, honey, maple syrup, wild edibles, pastured chicken and turkey, grass-fed beef, home-canned, baked, and dehydrated items, and gluten-free products. Not simply offering foods, our market boasts vendors of cut flowers, annuals, and nursery stock, home and garden decor, goat soap and personal care items, jewelery, fiber, knitted and crocheted items, reed and textile baskets, woodturned items, crafts, and fine art.
“There’s a real desire for people to buy locally. Even more so, we want to see long-term investment from consumers in area farmers and businesses and likewise, our farmers and businesses rooted in the lives of the people within their community.”
A “producers-only” market, all items sold must be grown or produced by the vendor, within a 35-mile radius from Rushford. However, the group has reached out to local businesses as well, so long as the business produces a product locally. “We’ve had local business be very open to the market idea. We want this market to enhance the businesses that are already established and help them find an additional venue for reaching potential customers.”
“Don’t just buy local. Enjoy local.”
* All events are pending approval and are tentative.