Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Farmers markets grow in Northwest Arkansas
Larry Hays will start selling vegetables this spring at the Bentonville Farmers Market — a dream he has been working toward for years.
Expanding farmers markets and growing interest in locally grown food is making that dream easier, Hays said.
Hays and his wife, Joan, moved back to Arkansas from Mexico two years ago and started farming herbs, lettuce, tomatoes and other vegetables. His goal is to sell at farmers markets and to local restaurants.
Bentonville is one of multiple markets in Northwest Arkansas increasing its options to meet growing consumer demand in the area.
MARKET GROWTH
The market started with humble beginnings 40 years ago when a local farmer decided to sell his goods on the Bentonville square, said Melanie Myers, Bentonville Farmers Market manager.
“Now we have about 70 vendors on average, give or take a few, depending on events,” Myers said. “When we have a larger event, we can have anywhere from 7,000 to 8,000 people.”
The market will be expanding farther down Second Street from the square this year, Myers said. It currently spans Northwest A, Second, Main and Central streets.
More events will be added to draw larger crowds as well, Myers said. This includes a chili cook-off in October, she said.
The farmers market scene in Rogers will be undergoing the largest transition this year as Main Street Rogers launches a year-round market downtown. The Rogers Farmers Market, a separate nonprofit entity, also is running a year-round market at Frisco Station Mall.
A former transmission repair shop owned by the city is in the process of renovations to house the new market, which is set to open April 30.
Ryan Neal, market manager, said the market should open with about 25 to 30 vendors.
“If we have 25 consistent vendors that cover all of our bases, I think we will have a good market,” Neal said.
The number of vendors could increase if the traffic through the market is high, Neal said.
“It is a big space with room inside and outside,” Neal said. “We certainly have room to expand.”
The Springdale and Fayetteville farmers markets also are planning on changes.
Paula Boles, Springdale Market Manager, said the number of vendors selling at the market continues to grow since it opened in 1997. The market currently has about 30 vendors during the peak season. About 100 people visit the market on average, Boles said.
The market also will be moving locations when it opens May 7, Boles said. The market currently sits in a parking lot at The Jones Center near its main entrance. She said it will continue to be located at The Jones Center but will move to the intersection of East Emma Avenue and Arkansas 265.
A new market will run for the first time this year in Springdale as well. Mill Street Market will open April 30 and have about 30 booths on Saturday’s between Johnson Avenue and Price Street.
Fayetteville has the longest running farmers market of Northwest Arkansas’ four largest cities. It opened in 1973 and expanded to a year-round market in 2012. The market runs inside the Jefferson Center in January to March and opens on the downtown square April 2.
Leann Halsey, market business coordinator, said the market is always looking for ways to serve more people. This year it will be adding several events to coincide with the market.
The Fayetteville market has about 65 to 70 vendors during peak season and averages about 5,000 visitors a day, Halsey said.
Cooking demonstrations will be added this year, Halsey said. She said they will be held every Saturday from May to October. The demonstrations will help consumers learn how to cook with seasonal produce, she said.
A salsa festival also will be added, Halsey said. The festival will focus on tasting salsa from local restaurants and will include a salsa workshop.
PRODUCT VARIETY
As farmers markets expand and public interest grows so does the production, said Teresa Maurer, Fayetteville Market vendor coordinator.
“I think the growth in farmers markets is a cycle,” Maurer said. “There is growth in the markets, growth in customer interest and there are more people who apply to our market.”
The variety of products is changing too, Maurer said. Ginger is a new product popping up at a few stands recently, she said. More vendors are also becoming organic certified or using better growing practices, Maurer said.
There are more than enough vendors for all the expanding markets in the region, Maurer said. She said Fayetteville often has to turn away vendors because of lack of space.
Myers said she is seeing a lot of new vendors she has never seen apply to the Bentonville Farmers Market in recent years. Farms are also expanding and selling at multiple markets with the help of relatives or friends.
“There are so many people in the Northwest Arkansas region,” Myers said. “Every town could open their own market and still have enough people to sustain them. There is a lot of growth and more and more people are getting into the healthy food movement. That has really changed a lot of things in the area.”
Tristan Lawler balanced a baby on her hip and held the hand of a toddler as she walked down the sidewalk in Rogers. Her family is currently living in
San Antonio, Texas, while her husband serves in the military.
The family tries to visit farmers markets when visiting Northwest Arkansas, said Lawler, an Arkansas native. She also has been following the growth of each market.
“There are a lot more options in recent years,” Lawler said. “The quality is better as well.”
Lawler said the family plans to return to Northwest Arkansas in the next couple of years. Rogers is one option, and news about the new farmers market has piqued her interest. She also said it is her dream to one day have a small farm and grow for the markets.
Hays was one of the new vendors to apply to sell at the Bentonville market this year.
“This is something that I think is needed in this country,” Hays said. “There are just too many indications that we should be eating organically. I am attempting to sell my organic produce at no higher price. I am going to try to keep it competitive with non-organic.”
Neal said the region has been supportive of Rogers starting a new market.
“I haven’t had any pushback from other market managers in nearby cities,” Neal said. “They don’t see it as being competition. It helps boost all of our farmers markets as long as we are doing a good job.”