WINNEMUCCA - Farmers Markets are becoming a nationwide phenomenon.
Farmers markets allow consumers to have access to locally grown, farm fresh produce, enables farmers the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with their customers, and cultivate consumer loyalty with the farmers who grows the produce, according to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
The AMS reports a distinct upward trend in the popularity of farmers markets, tracing a 9.6 percent rise in the number of markets between 2011 and 2012. In 2012, the AMS counted 7,864 markets nationwide.
In Nevada, the NevadaGrown nonprofit cooperation lists farmers markets all across the state - from the metro areas to Tonopah, Lovelock, Spring Creek and beyond. For years, Winnemucca has enjoyed a farmers market - more than one, actually.
The Winnemucca Community Garden has held a farmers market in past years, and the Doubletree Ranch Farmers Market, owned by John and Carol Shank of Lovelock, has also brought produce to Winnemucca for the last couple of years. Now, those produce vendors are committed to working together to create a single, unified Winnemucca Farmers Market.
Still in the planning and growing stages, the Winnemucca Farmers Market Committee recently went before the Winnemucca City Council to obtain use of Nixon Lawn in downtown Winnemucca as a venue for summer markets.
With permission granted from the Council, the group has continued meeting every other weekend to hammer out some rules and policies, to create a unified logo, signage, a pricing structure for booth rental and the many other details needed to bring off a successful event.
Heading up the group is Winnemucca Community Garden Executive Director Amanda Hoffer, who has set the next meeting for Sunday, April 28, at 2 p.m. in the Sarah Winnemucca room of Humboldt General Hospital.
Current plans call for the market to open each Thursday beginning June 27. Hours will be 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and the event will always be held at Nixon Lawn, on corner of Melarkey Street and Winnemucca Boulevard. For more information, contact Hoffer through the Community Garden via email: winngarden@yahoo.com, by calling the garden office at 623-2333 or connecting via Facebook: Winnemucca Community Garden.
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