The Sara Hardy Downtown Farmer's Market Is Moving For Cherry Festival

Just as it always does, but this year to the Old Town Parking Deck.

A move I am quite excited to see as I have told people in the past that I think the parking decks can be used for functions other than parking.

My hypothesis is it'll be a great location for the Farmer's Market as there is built-in parking, coverage for people to get out of the elements, and it is still close to downtown. Other cities use their parking decks for the Farmer's Market so I am interested in seeing how this experiment turns out.

See you Saturday morning!

Indoor Farmer's Market In Building 50's Mercato

Via Culinarian Capital. (chestnuts too!)

This Would Finish Off Michigan

Update 9 April, 2009: What's Up With the Organic E-Mail Scare?

Sounds like this may be based on fear-mongering.

The automobile industry is already dead. If Michigan's small farmers are killed by this bill then Michigan will have no future.

Cryptogon: Change We Can Believe In: How About the End of Farmers Markets? Say Hello to H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009

What this will do is force anyone who produces food of any kind, and then transports it to a different location for sale, to register with a new federal agency called the “Food Safety Administration.” Even growers who only sell only fruit and/or vegetables at farmers markets would not only have to register, but they would be subject inspections by federal agents of their property and all records related to food production. The frequency of these inspections will be determined by the whim of the Food Safety Administration. Mandatory “safety” records would have to be kept. Anyone who fails to register and comply with all of this nonsense could be facing a fine of up to $1,000,000 per violation.

America's Best Farmer's Markets

The top five according to Good Magazine: Farmers in the City

Closest one to Traverse City is Madison, WI.

But I bet one day the Traverse City Farmer's Market will be recognized nationally. It seems that one thing these five have in common is an abundance of local meat.

Thinking About The Traverse City Farmer's Market

As the number of farmers at a market grows the more need there is for a dedicated manager.

See: PhysOrg - As Farmers' Markets Grow, So Should Management

Traverse City is obviously outgrowing the downtown farmer's market as there are cars looking for parking and people packed in the aisle. It is a good place to see people and be seen but for many folks it is too crowded. Setting up alternative, competing markets is not a fair solution to anyone. Where can Traverse City move the farmer's market? You need a place downtown to support the core businesses. Ithaca, NY has their farmer's market right on Cayuga Lake. It is a large covered structure and has its own dock. Could Traverse City use the old zoo space next to the marina as a sprawling farmer's market?

Other cities (e.g., Baton Rouge, Chapel Hill) have their farmer's markets in parking decks. Traverse City has a parking deck downtown too. The farmer's market could potentially be moved to the top level on nice days and an interior level on rainy/snowy days. Offer free parking until 5 PM and all of a sudden Traverse City has a farmer's market larger than the current one, with plenty of parking, and still within walking distance to downtown.