By Sadie Hunter
On June 1, the City of Lawrence will launch its new farmers market, the Fort Ben Farmers Market.
“I think genesis-wise, this is something that Mayor (Steve) Collier came into his job wanting to start,” said Cameron Starnes, City of Lawrence economic development director. “It’s something that I think has been talked about in the community for a while. (Collier) had heard that and saw it as a good way to enhance some of the community aspects of Fort Ben.
“This has been an ongoing redevelopment area since the base closed in the mid ’90s. This will also help bring some new traffic to the area.”
With 15 vendors, the market, housed at Fort Ben’s Civic Plaza along Lawrence Village Parkway, just north of 56th Street, will run each Thursday through September, from 4 to 7:30 p.m.
When planning for the market began, Starnes said the committee sought the help of Stevi Stoesz, executive director of the Indianapolis City Market.
“We knew that it would take some time to put together and realized some of our limitations,” Starnes said. “So we reached out to Stevi to really be a consultant to us and get this off the ground, to get the pieces in place and recruit vendors and sponsors.”
Stoesz has worked with the Indianapolis City Market since 1994. After a six-year hiatus, she returned as the market’s executive director in 2008.
“Public markets, when I was growing up, were one of the first places that when my family was traveling for vacation we would go,” she said. “Markets tend to really demonstrate the local community and how people operate and shop locally. It’s a very authentic experience, and it just got in my blood.
“Markets really are hubs for diversity, whether you’re a foodie whose priority is fresh produce or sustainably raised eggs and meats, or if you want a destination for entertainment.”
The market will host vendors from across the state that will bring locally grown and produced food items.
“It’s comprised of produce, baked goods, honey, artisan breads and some prepared foods,” Stoesz said. “It will be a farmers market that is an experience that is family friendly with a lot activities for kids and adults alike. Guests can grab a bite to eat and walk the market.”
Live music also will occasionally be a feature of the market, along with games provided by the steering committee and Lawrence Parks Dept. The evening operating hours make the market unique.
“It’s a different atmosphere. It lends a different kind of vibe and experience for people,” Stoesz said. “It’s a little more relaxed than a Saturday morning market, where people get in and get out. With this, we want people to linger, and we want to build community.”
With the city’s growing population, Starnes said the market is an “everybody market.”
“Lawrence is almost 50,000 people, so the demographics are all over the map. There’s lots of diversity here, so we hope this is a positive thing for everbody,” he said. “There is a growing number of people who live here on the fort and in the City of Lawrence as a whole, including all of the people who work in the area. It’s something that would be adjacent for them, even after work or on the way home.”
VENDORS
- Hardwood Honey: honey, honey products
- Becker Farms: meat, produce, eggs
- Lucky Leaf Produce Farm: produce
- Nicey Treat: Frozen desserts
- Wild Alaska Salmon & Seafood: sustainably caught seafood
- Hot Toddy’s: breads, baked goods
- Jonathan Warren: popcorn
- 4 Paws Only: dog treats
- Porter Books & Bread: baked goods
- Pots & Pans, LLC: baked goods, florals
- Tinker Coffee Co.: roasted coffee beans, coffee
- Pi Indy: pizza
- Grandpa’s Beef Jerky: beef jerky
- Grace & Truth Farms: meats, produce
- Project Bundy Homestead: produce
