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Lawrence Farmers' Market competing for national ranking
Another Lawrence institution is working to make the latest Top 20 poll, and this one doesn’t have anything to do with KU athletics.
The Downtown Lawrence Farmers' Market is battling to be named one of the 20 best farmers' markets in the country by the American Farmland Trust.
The nonprofit organization is running an online poll asking people to vote for their favorite farmers' market. Thus far, Lawrence is on the outside looking in.
As of Thursday morning, the Lawrence market had 73 votes, which left it 18 votes behind 20th ranked Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market in Santa Barbara, Calif. Lawrence’s market is a full 1,024 votes behind the No. 1 ranked Davis Farmers Market in Davis, Calif.
People can vote online at www.farmland.org/vote.
Several other Kansas markets also are part of the competition. Thus far, the farmers' market in Emporia is ranked No. 16 in the medium-market category. Lawrence is competing in the large-market category because it has more than 55 vendors on a regular basis.
Voting will last for about another week, according to a press release from the group.
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30 July 2009
at 11:30 a.m.
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ilovelucy (Anonymous) says…
I'm really not knocking our Farmer's Market because I am a regular customer and love the variety. However, to be in the large city category is ridiculous.
You don't know what a good market is until you visit KC's, Denver's or Colorado Springs.
30 July 2009
at 11:32 a.m.
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jkealing (Jonathan Kealing) says…
lucy—
Des Moines has one of the best farmer's markets around as well. A great, great mix of fresh food and freshly prepared food that makes it worth getting up early on a Saturday morning.
Jonathan Kealing
Online editor
30 July 2009
at 11:51 a.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
Isn't it interesting that so many of the things that the “wackos” are pushing for in this town are the things that put Lawrence on the map! Free State, Wheatfields, the Farmer's Market, and no where is there mention that Lawrence is competing with dog food plants, warehouses, McDonalds, Best Buy in the rest of the country. Maybe if people would accept that what makes Lawrence so desirable to live in isn't housing sprawl out west and roping a fly by night corporation to town but the very things being encouraged by true small business people, not the Chamber.
30 July 2009
at 12:20 p.m.
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DougCounty (Anonymous) says…
What I like best about the Lawrence Farmer's Market is that it is for local/regional producers only. That gives it a real down-home feel, with amazing variety, and, best of all, great people you get to know personally. When the average grocery-bought food has travelled an average of 1500 miles, it's a refreshing change to get the local stuff, which can be bought truly ripe/ready to prepare instead of having to sit on the shelf 3 days to ripen to edibility. Even better are some of those heirloom varieties where they were developed for flavor, not ship-ability!
30 July 2009
at 12:34 p.m.
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Seamus (Anonymous) says…
People think Wal-Mart is the free market at work but I see more of true capitalism at the local Farmer's Markets. Dozens of vendors in direct competition with one another rather than one giant store that gets to dictate the prices. But you have to wonder if any of the proposed food safety laws will run these smaller operations out of business in favor of the corporate farms.
30 July 2009
at 12:48 p.m.
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Machiavelli_mania (Anonymous) says…
I have been to the Farmer's market once in two to three years. And then I can't find what I am looking for. They will never top Madison's Farmer's market (wisconsin). It rocks!!
30 July 2009
at 12:52 p.m.
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Machiavelli_mania (Anonymous) says…
I think there is a lot of political (not party affiliations but political in influence) events that happen behind the scenes with the city's Market. What I don't get at the store, I buy at the northern produce-stand near the airport. There needs to be more produce stands independent of the Market to control prices.
30 July 2009
at 1:10 p.m.
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Machiavelli_mania (Anonymous) says…
Where in Des Moines is the Farmer's Market? I could take it in sometime.
30 July 2009
at 1:13 p.m.
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jkealing (Jonathan Kealing) says…
Machiavelli—
It's on Court Avenue and several streets around it. It runs from 7 a.m. to noon:
http://www.desmoinesfarmersmarket.com/
30 July 2009
at 1:14 p.m.
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BrianR (Anonymous) says…
Our Farmer's Market rocks.
30 July 2009
at 1:17 p.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
Hey Jonathan,
Do you all realize that the voting site, requires a person to list an email address to vote, also hopes they will make a comment. (I think this is getting the people used to giving information on the site)
Okay, that a person might be able to handle. But when they click to finish that page it takes them straight to another page with more to fill out, more boxes asking for names, credit card information for donations, personal information, etc.
Lots of it. Lots of those little 'required asterisks' that if a person just tried to click past, it send them right back saying, these are required.
A person not knowing better may think they have to pay to vote or something, that they've gotten in over their heads, etc. I didn't easily see a 'no thanks' box, I just closed the window. They definitely wanted to do all they could to try and get people's money. They even try to tease you with the possibility of a free tote bag. I didn't look at it all.
This is clearly a money making scheme.
Thought you might want to take a closer look and give some instructions or input.
30 July 2009
at 1:30 p.m.
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jkealing (Jonathan Kealing) says…
Multi-
You're right. No donation is needed to vote for the Lawrence Farmer's Market!
Jonathan Kealing
30 July 2009
at 4:11 p.m.
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Machiavelli_mania (Anonymous) says…
JK, thanks much.
30 July 2009
at 5:10 p.m.
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consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
I happen to like the size of our Farmers market. If it were a larger one, is would be less personalized. I like going there and talking to the folks who shop there. And… I like the granolas that run it. They are very nice folks.
31 July 2009
at 12:13 a.m.
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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…
our farmers market is just plain wonderful!
dunno what 'mania has stuck in her head.
our farmers market: friendly people, great selection. just fun to go to.
***
please don't stone me: I shopped at the Davis farmers market when it was very young. local kiwi, peppers, corn, some other vegies. all was good. was on a sidewalk, along the side of a downtown park, usually not very many people selling.
so, sorry, I helped support the Davis market.
but how is *that* a large city farmers market???
I'll be voting for Lawrence, thanks.
31 July 2009
at 12:27 a.m.
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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…
from the donation page that follows voting:
Every minute, two acres of farmland are paved over for development. In ten minutes, that could be the amount of acreage needed to support one of the vendors
at your farmers market for the whole season. That could be your entire farmers market—gone in under an hour!
–isn't this rather hyperbolic? seems extreme, at least if you're considering american farmland.
13 August 2009
at 8:29 a.m.
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Stain (Anonymous) says…
I love the Farmer's Market but it is not one of the top 20. Not by a long shot.
7 November 2009
at 6:33 a.m.
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dudedog12 (Anonymous) says…
this is old news, need to get it off of the site.