BEDFORD -- At the
Bedford Farmers Market last Tuesday, customers casually strolled along
the grounds of Riley Field, stopping to study the fruits, vegetables,
breads, flowers and other goods from local merchants.
The appeal of farmers
markets to customers is easy to grasp, said Donna Arnold of Berry Good
Farms in Goffstown.
"Everyone
enjoys coming," she said. "It's a festive thing. And (customers)
know they're getting fresh produce."
But the farmers
and other businesses that set up shop at local markets also get something
out of the deal; in addition to having a direct outlet to sell their
goods, farmers markets allow local growers and business owners a chance
to create a direct connection with customers and spread the word about
other goods and services they offer.
Creating a buzz
John Crandall of
Coffee Break Bakery in Manchester has been bringing his cookies, pies,
and breads -- baked from scratch at the store -- to the Manchester Farmers
Market for seven years, and to the Bedford market since it opened last
year. It's extra work to bring the food to farmers markets: the packaging
of the food, loading it on the truck, setting up and bringing everything
back takes a good deal of time, he said.
"It's a lot
of work and preparation beyond our regular business," he said.
While the markets can be good for sales, they're better for creating
a buzz about his bsuiness, Crandall said.
"Sales are
good sometimes," he said. "I hand out business cards here.
Sometimes people rave about something and they come in (to the store
in Manchester)."
Kristine McLeod
of McLeod Brothers Orchards in Milford brings the farm's produce, which
includes tomatoes, squash, and peaches to the Milford and Bedford farmers
markets.
The farm has a
farmstand and a pick-your-own-apples venture in the fall, and the farmers
markets are a good way to let buyers know about those ventures as well,
McLeod said.
"It's a way
for us to let customers know about the farm, and it's a way to get to
know your customers."
In addition to
creating word of mouth recognition of the farm's products, farmers markets
are generally good places for sales, as customers wandering by the displays
have come to the market to buy their products.
"It's very
worthwhile," she said. "People are coming and they're ready
to buy, as opposed to the farmstand, where you're waiting for people
to make a decision."
Plenty of prep
work
Still, getting
your products to the market is not easy, especially considering the
amount of work it takes to run a farm, Arnold said.
"It's very
labor intensive," she said. "You've got to pick everything,
package everything...and present it. And there's always a ton to do
back at the farm."
Arnold said that
in addition ot getting people interested in locally grown products,
the farmers market in Manchester allows local growers to present an
alternative to supermarket produce.
"It's good
exposure for your farm," she said, "and it's a good way to
bring fresh produce into the city."
Customers also
enjoy the chance to see a good variety of fresh goods. Paul Pavia of
Bedford was attending his first ever farmers market on Tuesday, and
said he was pleased with the selection of products for sale.
"I was curious
to see what it was all about," he said. "It looks like they've
got pretty good variety."
On the other hand,
Carole Vandermark of Merrimack is no stranger to farmers markets, and
said what draws her is both the quality of the food and the camaraderie
between the farmers and the customers.
"I've been
coming quite regularly," she said. "The produce is fresh and
the people are very nice."
Also, by buying
from local growers, the economy of the area is strengthened, Vandermark
said.
"We're helping
the community," she said.
This
story ran on page A15 of the New Hampshire Sunday News 8/10/2003.
©
Copyright 2003 Union
Leader Corporation.
