Farmers markets don't compete (with each other)

It would be great to be Indiana’s favorite farmers market. We will celebrate all of the markets, big and small, that connect local producers with our Hoosier communities.

A view from H&H Flowers at the Coffee Creek Farmers Market in July, 2022.

By Kat Peters, Market Manager

There’s currently an election going on. American Farmland Trust is holding voting on America’s favorite farmers market. Our market is small, and we are not going to win the national distinction (but so far we are ranked #2 in Indiana!!). But that isn’t the point. Farmers markets don’t compete with each other. The online voting is actually a way for all farmers markets to increase visibility over our actual competition: big box stores and non-local food.

Imagine a world where we all gathered at our local markets to pick up fresh, locally grown food each week. Where farmers were valued for their fundamental role in our economy and society. Where local bakers, chefs and artisans helped to keep our resources local and enriched all of our lives with their art.

So much local fruit and veggie (and egg) goodness to keep you healthy and fed! From Kajers Greens at the Coffee Creek Farmers Market.

That’s what farmers markets do. There are enough farmers markets in our area that you should be able to get a lot of your necessities there. Many of them also have “fun” non-necessity items.

I know that for me it can be easy to think: “I need several different items; I’ll go to Target.” But participating weekly in the farmers market has helped me to stop for a minute and think, “Wait, is there a local producer selling what I need?”

Another question we could ask: If I can't get it at a local market, do I really need it? That's a longer term question I'm working on myself...

We all don’t have to go all-or-nothing farmers markets vs big-box stores (though that would be ideal!). But each time we choose local, we strengthen our communities. At the Coffee Creek Farmers Market we would love if you would choose us for your local produce each week. And we would love if you voted for us in the AFT Farmers Market Celebration. We all win when you choose farmers markets in general, especially producer-only markets like the Coffee Creek Farmers Market.

It would be great to be Indiana’s favorite farmers market, or even in the top 3 or 5 or 10. And we will celebrate all of the markets, big and small, that connect local producers with our Hoosier communities.

Find us this week and every week at our Wednesday market at the Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve Pavilion parking lot, April 20-November 2, 2022, from 3-7 PM. Check us out on Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for our mailing list to get notified of all of the vendors' featured products each week.

Starting June 20, vote for the Coffee Creek Farmers Market as your favorite market and help us to win part of this year's $10,000 prize from American Farmland Trust and the Farmers Market Coalition! Click here to cast your vote for us and get a free No Farms No Food bumper sticker!