By Michelle Williams
With an overwhelming positive response through a recent Parks department survey, the Whitestown Council has approved the formation of a farmers market. Town employees are currently researching bylaws and strategies of other successful farmers markets in the state.
Parks director Nathan Messer said that residents may see a market yet this year — even if only a small handful of vendors are able to commit initially. Messer expects that the market could accommodate up to 30 vendors in the front parking lot of the town hall located at 6210 South 700 East.
According to the survey administered through the parks department, 98 percent of the respondents want fresh produce, 50-60 percent want locally-produced specialty artisan items such as canned or pickled foods. At least 240 residents responded to the survey, which was distributed through Facebook and Twitter.
Messer is considering possible times for a Saturday market, as preferred by 70 percent of the survey respondents. He said he will likely choose to stagger the time away from the morning time slot occupied by the Zionsville market. “We may have a little bit of an overlap, but then people could actually come out and see both of them — which could be good for both markets.” he said.
Long term plans for the Whitestown farmers market include the capability for vendors to accept SNAP cards. Just under 20 percent of the respondents said that they would be likely to use SNAP. Messer explained that grants exist that will double up to $20 of a shopper’s SNAP funds when used to purchase locally grown produce.
“If you’re on a limited food budget, it’s always easier to buy the 50 cent box of mac and cheese versus the dollar head of lettuce,” she said.
Community residents have asked for more local options. “Whitestown is trying to progress forward and listen to the people — and they want a farmers market,” Messer said.
Whether this summer or next, Whitestown residents can expect to get their farmers market.
