Boyertown Farmers Market Receives Grant

Building a Better Boyertown’s Farmers Market has been awarded a grant of $1,845, respectively, under the state’s Direct Farm Sales Grant Program. The Boyertown Farmer’s Market is part of Building a Better Boyertown’s Economic Restructuring committee.

Throughout the nation, communities are using the Main Street approach to revitalize their traditional commercial districts. Boyertown's Main Street project seeks to weave the past, present, and future together toward the maintenance and development of a healthy economic structure, which promotes the values and traditions honored by its residents. In 2007, Building a Better Boyertown decided to implement a Farmer’s Market to help with economic growth in the commercial district as well as with local farmers. Project goals for the Farmer’s Market are to increase foot traffic in the Boyertown main street area, to promote local business and downtown revitalization, increase Berks County farmer’s access to consumers and to increase local citizen’s access to fresh, local produce.

Local farmers set up their tents and stands and invite the community to "shop local." Locally grown produce, meats, poultry, eggs, fish, dairy products, baked goods and homemade soaps, and local crafters are among the products offered for sale each Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. June-October and monthly November-May. Friends and neighbors greet one another, exchanged news and information, and enjoyed the bounties of the fall harvest as part of their weekly visit to the Farmer's Market.

The budget for the Boyertown Farmer’s Market consists of two main categories, marketing and staffing. The marketing funds are used to increase word of mouth about the farmer’s market and get residents to come. The marketing campaign is focused at local businesses and within local newspapers to reach as many people in the surrounding area as possible.

The second category of the budget is staffing. Building a Better Boyertown employs a Farmer’s Market Manager to recruit local farmers, conduct the marketing campaign, and ensure the weekly farmer’s market runs smoothly from set up to take down. The manager is also in charge of measuring the success of the farmer’s market by number of community members visiting and number of local farmers served. Additional costs for the project are insurance, entertainment at the farmer’s market, welcome packets for the farmers, and miscellaneous costs.

The Boyertown Farmers Market has a committed set of sixteen vendors so far for the 2010 season. The process for recruiting additional new farmers has started. Farmers must fill out an application and sign a commitment to participate in the market. Farmers will be chosen based on their ability to provide fresh produce, meat, and baked goods to consumers. The criteria for vendors are they must grow, raise, or create their product for sale. The Farmer’s Market Manager will be looking to have a diverse selection of goods for sale each week.

For more information about Building A Better Boyertown, please visit www.boyertownpa.org for information on the Farmers Market, please visit www.boyertownpa.org/farmersmarket

You may also email Heather Oxenford, Building a Better Boyertown’s Main Street Manager manager@boyertownpa.org or Brian Miller, Farm Manager/Sharon Lee Committee Chair farmmanager@boyertownpa.org

Or please call Building A Better Boyertown’s office: 610-369-3054

Building A Better Boyertown is a member of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and is a designated Main Street Community.