tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777594846712445966.post1655381893168076671..comments2010-04-07T21:41:14.597-07:00Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14288343763430736154noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777594846712445966.post-51316561137561768242010-04-07T21:41:14.589-07:002010-04-07T21:41:14.589-07:00Hey Devra,<br /><br />I think there might actually be three types of markets in King County (or an infinite number, depending on how you define &quot;type&quot;).<br /><br />1. Big, well-established, weekend markets where vendors consistently do very well. <br />2. Smaller neighborhood markets that have a good vendor mix and loyal shoppers where vendors do pretty well.<br />3. Markets in some suburbs and smaller towns that struggle to attract the diverse vendor mix that a sustainable market needs in order to generate loyal customers. <br /><br />From my startup farmer&#39;s perspective, we should try to incubate new farms by giving beginning farmers space at the type 1 markets where the most shopper dollars are. I think many of the type 2 markets have an appropriate balance between shoppers and the number of vendors, but at the type 3 markets the dollars may not be there for the first few years. Relegating new farmers/food businesses to these struggling markets hinders the growth of both new farmers and new markets.<br /><br />If the thriving weekend markets in King County set aside space for a couple of startup farms each year that could provide enough cash flow for those farms to also attend a small, startup market and stick it out long enough to build a loyal customer base. <br /><br />See you at the market!<br />Sirilocalrootsfarmhttp://localrootsfarm.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com