WHO THIS MARKET HELPS AND WHY WE STARTED IT

THE IDEA WAS SIMPLE: RECONNECT THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE IT A CHANCE TO LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WAS NOT AS SIMPLE.

WE RECOGNIZED A SIGNIFICANT (AND SURPRISING) ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY – HUNGER. WE BECAME AWARE OF CHILDREN AND ELDERLY ADULTS WHO WERE NOT RECEIVING ADEQUATE MEALS, AND SET OUT TO FIND A SOLUTION. WE BEGAN BY VISITING OUR LOCAL FOOD BANK AND SENIOR CENTER AND ASKING WHAT WAS NEEDED. THE ANSWER WAS FRESH, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. WE LEARNED THAT THEY WERE RELYING HEAVILY ON LOW-QUALITY FOODS PURCHASED FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AT PENNIES PER POUND. BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS, MORE THAN 2000 HOT MEALS ARE SERVED EACH MONTH TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY PROVIDING FOR THEMSELVES. REALIZING THAT THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE TOWN IS JUST UNDER 3000 PEOPLE, WE UNDERSTOOD THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS NUMBER. WE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IF IT WEREN’T FOR THE CENTER, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE MIGHT NOT EAT AT ALL. THE VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS WERE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.

WE QUICKLY DECIDED THAT THE BEST PLAN OF ATTACK WOULD BE TO LAUNCH A FARMERS MARKET IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN HOGANSVILLE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD DRAW A WIDE AND DIVERSE CROWD, COULD BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE AT ANY INCOME LEVEL (FREE), AND IT WOULD BE FUN! AFTER ALL, WHAT BETTER WAY TO SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION TO A HUNGER PROBLEM THAN TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO GROW AND PREPARE FOOD? WE REALIZED THAT FOR IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS OF RECONNECTING THE COMMUNITY, FEEDING THE HUNGRY AND BRINGING REVENUE TO THE TOWN THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE A VERY SPECIAL MARKET. WE BEGAN TO SEEK OUT LOCAL FARMERS TO TEST THE WATER AND FIND OUT IF THERE WOULD BE ANY INTEREST. WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE FARMERS IN THE AREA WHO WERE STRUGGLING AS WELL. THEY NEEDED A WAY TO COME TO MARKET AND DIDN’T HAVE THE TOOLS TO GET THERE ON THEIR OWN. SOME WERE CLOSE TO GIVING UP THEIR FARMS ALTOGETHER AS TIMES HAD BECOME SO DIFFICULT. WE OFFERED AN INEXPENSIVE BOOTH FEE AND OUR PLEDGE TO TALK ABOUT THIS MARKET TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN IN EXCHANGE FOR A DONATION OF ANY SURPLUS CROPS TO THE FOOD BANK AND SENIOR CENTER. THEIR RESPONSE TO THE IDEA WAS OVERWHELMING AND THEIR EXCITEMENT WAS CONTAGIOUS.

THE IDEA GREW QUICKLY AND GENERATED IMMEDIATE SUPPORT FROM NOT ONLY THE TOWN, BUT FROM THE COUNTY AGENCIES THAT GOVERNED IT. WE VISITED LOCAL BUSINESSES AND BEGAN TO RAISE MONEY FOR MARKET ADVERTISEMENT. WE DESIGNED A MARKETING PLAN THAT INCLUDED WEB, TELEVISION RADIO AND PRINT AND RECEIVED MORE SUPPORT THAN WE EVER IMAGINED POSSIBLE.

WE SOUGHT OUT ADDITIONAL VENDORS, REQUIRING THAT EVERYTHING BE HANDMADE OR GROWN FROM THEIR OWN GARDENS. WE FOUND SOME OF THE MOST BRILLIANT PEOPLE WE’VE EVER MET AND INVITED THEM TO JOIN.

WE HOPE THAT THE MARKET WILL BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT HASN’T BEEN EXPERIENCED IN A VERY LONG TIME. WE EXPECT THAT IN OUR FIRST MONTH WE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP FEED MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR MARKETING PROGRAM WILL RAISE AWARENESS AND BRING ADDITIONAL BUSINESS TO OUR DOWNTOWN WHICH DESPERATELY NEEDS IT. WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE AS MUCH FUN PARTICIPATING IN THIS AS WE’VE HAD PLANNING IT. WE KNOW WE WILL RECONNECT.

LIFE HAS NEVER TASTED THIS GOOD!