Market move
Congratulations to local farmers’ market organizers for looking at new ways to serve both vendors and customers.
Moving Thursday’s Lawrence Farmers’ Market to a west Lawrence location is a great marketing move, as well as a nice piece of community outreach.
The Saturday morning market, staged in the city parking lots in the 800 block of New Hampshire Street, is a popular event that draws people from all parts of the community. Customers can have a tasty breakfast and maybe hear some live music while buying locally grown flowers, plants and produce and seeing friends from throughout the surrounding area. It’s an institution.
The markets from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays are more of a convenience than a community event. They attract fewer venders and fewer customers to the location in the 1000 block of Vermont Street.
So why not try something new? Market organizers have decided to leave the Tuesday afternoon market in the same location but change up their offerings by moving the Thursday market to the shopping area at the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive. There is plenty of parking and plenty of traffic. Organizers say they hope to attract commuters on their way back to Lawrence, which makes sense, but there also are many people living in that area who will simply enjoy the convenience of the Sixth and Wakarusa location. Some of those people might even be more likely to go to the downtown market after getting hooked on the fresh local products.
It’s a great move by market organizers. We predict the new Thursday location will be a popular feature for both shoppers and vendors.