Meet the Member M MEET THE MEMBER: ROCHESTER FARMERS MARKET
F armers markets are an important aspect to any community, as they provide opportunities for small farmers and businesses to sell their products and help meet the demand for locally sourced food. The Rochester Farmers Market has been vital in strengthening the ties between local farms and the community since the market began in 1985. Market Manager, Abby Shepler, was able to provide us with some more information about the Rochester Farmers Market.
Market Manager, Abby Shepler (center) at the Chamber ribbon cutting to celebrate the Rochester Farmers Market.
Q : Tell us more about the Rochester Farmers Market. What does it offer to the Rochester region? A : The Rochester Farmers Market is a year-round growers market that operates Saturdays from 7:30 am – 12 pm at Graham Park. We support sustainable agriculture and the family farm by sponsoring a market to provide farmers with a well-organized retail marketplace, providing local access to quality farm products, and strengthening the ties between the family farm and the community. We are more than just a market! In partnership with 125 Live, we offer FREE community exercise classes at the market every Saturday morning from 8 am – 9 am followed by live, local music from 9 am – 12 pm. Saturday mornings at the farmers market are wonderful opportunities for quality time with friends and families. Wagons packed with kids, berries, and fresh corn is a common sight. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to get updates on our weekly events, chef demos, and our exercise classes and musicians! Q: How did it start for the Rochester Farmers Market? A : Our market officially started in 1985 with just a handful of vendors selling locally grown produce. As
the years have gone by, the market has continued to outgrow location after location to where we are today at Graham Park. In the very beginning (before certain food safety codes became a thing) the vendors would cook up eggs, sausage, and pancakes at the market and give it out for free to customers as a way to entice people to come down to the market! Q: The Rochester Farmers Market became a member of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce in March of 2021. What do you find valuable in your membership to the organization? A: Joining the Chamber has been extremely valuable for us! Our ribbon cutting ceremony was well planned and executed with great attendance from the Chamber Ambassadors. Brent was very communicative and fun to work with on planning the event. It was a nice touch to have a photographer there as well to capture the moment, which we were too busy to do. We had over a thousand visitors that day, and I believe that the ribbon cutting and support from the Chamber
| Advantage Magazine 10
May 2022
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