Help Rocky Butte Farmers Market go Weekly!✨
Donation protected
The Rocky Butte Farmers Market is returning in 2022 at the Mannahouse Church parking lot from June - September. We’re very excited to be switching our market to a weekly format to provide even more access to local food! We’re focused on adding a variety of new farmers, food makers, and crafters.
As we have seen pandemic-induced supply chain failures, as well as neighbors responding to job reduction and layoffs by becoming entrepreneurs in record numbers, supporting our local economy is more important than ever. Robust, successful farmers' markets that support human health, community connections, and agricultural resilience make a tremendous difference to people, farmers, food makers, and artisans.
As we have seen pandemic-induced supply chain failures, as well as neighbors responding to job reduction and layoffs by becoming entrepreneurs in record numbers, supporting our local economy is more important than ever. Robust, successful farmers' markets that support human health, community connections, and agricultural resilience make a tremendous difference to people, farmers, food makers, and artisans.
Now is the time to build on our momentum and take Rocky Butte Farmers Market to the next level. Having a robust group of community supporters is critical in our evolution to a larger, weekly market. You are invited to help us make this happen!
What Have We Achieved?
In 2021, we operated a monthly farmers’ market from June-October. Markets were successful and well attended, signaling that we have strong community support. Our experience operating a monthly market has shown that a weekly model would better serve all of our stakeholders. Vendors need a more consistent outlet for their products and community members have regularly reported a desire for more frequent events.
Our market has been a 100% volunteer-run operation. While our volunteers are a fantastic group with diverse talents, they are not able to provide the time and expertise needed to run the market in an expanded capacity. In order to truly serve our stakeholders and fulfill our mission, RBFM needs to grow.
What Does Growth Look Like?
We plan to hold weekly markets beginning in 2022, in part by raising sufficient funds to hire an experienced part-time market manager who will support and guide our continued growth and success. In addition to expanding market frequency, RBFM is proposing strategies to keep vendor fees affordable and seed a BIPOC & emerging vendor empowerment fund. With these initiatives we feel confident we will be able to attract vendors that reflect our community, see our vendor numbers grow, and provide the resources for success.
In addition, an expanded number of markets allows:
- vendors to plan for regular staffing and sales. Farmers will have certainty in a consistent outlet for produce, which is harvested continuously throughout the growing season.
- community members to shop weekly, providing steady access to fresh, affordable food filling a need in this part of our city.
- opportunities for businesses to thrive, neighbors to connect, and all to experience the joyful activity that the market brings each event.
Our Goals and How You Can Help!
Our individual fundraising goal for the 2022 season is $5,000. We are starting in a positive cash position and expect vendor fees to cover a portion of our budget. However, we anticipate significant upfront costs requiring additional funding ahead of the season. This will require contributions from individuals and local businesses, as well as possible grant funding. If you are interested in your business becoming a market sponsor, please visit our website for more info.
Your contributions will be used for:
- Reducing Barriers to Entry for Beginning and Under-represented Vendors: this is a core goal of RBFM. In addition to personalized application assistance, we are putting a percentage of 2022 vendor fees into supporting programs that train beginning and BIPOC farmers and food producers. Have any other ideas? Let us know.
- Hiring a Part-Time Market Manager: as volunteers, we cannot manage a weekly market on our own. A market manager takes on the day-to-day operations of the market, from attending to vendors, volunteers, and public relations, to collecting fees and assigning booths, to planning and implementing practices to help us reach our goals for the future. This person will come with enthusiasm and experience, and we get to pay them a fair wage to work for a supportive, committed organization. How cool is that?
- Purchasing Equipment and Managing Operations: there are lots of big and small costs associated with market preparation and setup, for example, signage, software/ subscriptions (Quickbooks, Marketspread vendor management software), and advertising (social media campaigns, printing). This year we want to expand on the market experience by providing a comfortable seating area, protected from the elements, where everyone can enjoy music, food, and good company (meaning, we need to purchase more tables, chairs, and pop-up tents.) Today all market equipment is currently stored in volunteer homes, so we are looking into an onsite storage solution.
Thank you for listening to our market story and contributing to our success!
ROCKY BUTTE FARMERS MARKET
- Where: Mannahouse Church parking lot - 9200 NE 92nd Ave. Portland, Oregon 97220
- When: Saturdays from 9am-1pm, running June 4th - Sept 24th 2022
- Who: 35+ farmers and vendors planned + Weekly musicians
- Now accepting new volunteers !
- Interested in becoming a vendor? Vendor application and info
Fundraising team (6)
Rocky Butte Farmers Market
Organizer
Portland, OR
Keri Friedman
Team member
Benjamin Cutler
Team member
Denise Underwood
Team member
Marla Zyla
Team member