More than a Market
Every summer, the Old Brooklyn Farmers Market brings together local farmers, food producers, artisans, musicians, volunteers, and neighbors. For many people, it's a weekly tradition. They stop by after work, pick up fresh produce, listen to live music, or catch up with someone they haven't seen in a while.
But why does a community development corporation operate a farmers market in the first place?
Farmers markets create opportunities for people to connect with one another. In a world where many of our interactions happen online or from behind a windshield, markets provide a place where neighbors can gather face-to-face.
Markets also support local entrepreneurs and small businesses. For many vendors, a farmers market serves as an accessible way to test new products, build a customer base, and grow a business. Some eventually move into storefronts or expand their operations, while others continue using markets as an important source of income and visibility.
Source: The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission
Just as importantly, farmers markets help improve access to fresh food. While Old Brooklyn has many strengths, access to healthy, affordable food remains a challenge for some residents. Not everyone has easy access to fresh produce close to home, and transportation can be a barrier for those trying to reach grocery stores outside the neighborhood.
The Old Brooklyn Farmers Market helps address that challenge by bringing fresh food directly into the community. The market accepts SNAP benefits, Produce Perks, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons, helping more residents stretch their food budgets while supporting local farmers at the same time.
The market also reflects many of the things that make Old Brooklyn unique. It brings together families, longtime residents, new neighbors, visitors, local organizations, and small businesses in one place. It's a reminder that a neighborhood is more than its buildings and streets. It's the relationships between the people who live, work, and spend time there.
We hope you'll join us this season.
