Alderman Vi Daley started a conversation in her email newsletter with the following statement:
I have been talking to the City's Special Events office about what we can do to improve the Lincoln Park High School Farmers Market next year.
Attendance is down and this is one of the oldest farmers markets in the City. What do you think would improve the market? Would you like to see children's activities? Live musical performances? Should there be some seating areas? Are there too many vendors or not enough? What kind of vendors would you like to see added or subtracted? We have plenty of time before the season gets underway next year. I look forward to hearing your suggestions. All comments will be posted on my website - without attribution - for everyone to review.
The number of comments has been overwhelming. It quickly became apparent that the Alderman's website was not the best location for the give and take that may follow. We will post all of the comments received on this site - and while no one's name will be provided, we will use initials or other information to allow you to get an idea of the many different views and for ease of reference in following posts.
This blog will be moderated by Alderman Daley's staff only to limit spam or off-topic comments. We are all looking forward to the additional conversation that we hope you will generate at this space.
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We love it, but have noticed the decline in attendance. I think the idea about kids activities is a great one. In fact, places like Bubbles, the newer preschools, Fantasy Kingdom, may offer services for free in an attempt to remind locals that they are here. Also, my husband mentioned recently seeing a kids' activity area, but it was off to the side, maybe making it central would help people know it's there - and get the kids to drag their parents in.
ReplyDeleteDear Vi and team - I'm writing in response to your question about the Lincoln Park Farmer's Market, which in my view has diminished in direct proportion to the expansion of the Green Market. I'm probably one of the few Green Market detractors but it is not a viable option for us. It is too expensive, parking is awful, biking is too restrictive for anything but a few items (forget the flat of plants, watermelon and dozen ears of corn), and the walking round-trip is too time-consuming, so I'd really like to see the LP market survive. But it has lost many vendors I went to every week, who seem to have opted not to split themselves anymore and just attend the Green market, like Red Hen bakery. Other vendors attend both but pull out of LP from time to time if they are short staffed and can't split between the two. I can still get the fruit and vegetables I want but for the most part but LP lacks the bread bakeries, apiaries, coffee roasters, nut vendors and others, like the impromptu musicians, that make it a lively experience and offer things I can't just buy at the store if I don't make it. We still go regularly but it is not the experience it used to be. I'd love to see things balanced out with the Green market, maybe for example by capping the number of vendors there to help stop the exodus from the neighborhood markets.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking an interest in this. It's a great feature of our neighborhood that I have anxiously awaited every spring for the last 20 years. It would be a huge shame to lose it.
The LP Market attendance fell with the Green City Market opening on Saturdays.That market is obviously taking away a lot of customers.
ReplyDeleteI can't see anything that would bring customers back.
Alderman Daley, Andersonville Farmers Market has an effective web site and large mailing list. As you can see their web site fairly professional.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.andersonville.org
We have been asking for 20 years for a bench or two in the shade for senior citizens. You could put them on the sidewalk south of the HS band building. Every year you tell me you are not allowed to put benches on the side walk, but the private school for the elites Francis Parker is allowed to have three benches opposite it on the sidewalk. Why not add benches for the average citizens, too? There are benches on the sidewalk for Halsted in the next ward south - that alderman found a way. I take my 85 year old godfather every Saturday, but we can't stay long because there is no where for him to sit. If you had benches in the shade I could stay for half an hour and shop the whole time.
ReplyDeleteHello Vi -
ReplyDeleteConcerning the LPHS Farmer's Market: I go every week and have also noticed that attendance is down significantly, s are the variety of vendors.
The main question to answer is, Is it viable to run two markets, the Green Market in Lincoln Park, so close in location without sabotaging the attendance of both?
The LPHS market needs to have more vendor variety, such as Red Hen Pantry. And have more of a social atmosphere with breakfast food, coffee, music, cooking demos, benches/tables for sitting. Anxious to learn of other ideas and if I can be of additional help on this issue.
Please do not turn the Lincoln Park High School market into another Green City Market. We do NOT need childrens' activities, live music, cooking demonstrations, etc. We NEED more vendors selling produce, flowers, breads and pastries, cheeses, etc. This market needs to be for people to really support local businesses. The Green City market can serve as a gathering place for yuppies on a Saturday morning, I need to be able to shop without tripping over kids, strollers, dogs, bicycles, etc. I need more selections and more choices, which means more vendors.
ReplyDeleteI purchase the majority of my fruits and vegetables during the summer from the farmers market at Lincoln Park High School. I like the convenience of the market and the selection. My one complaint is that it is located on a hot asphalt parking lot. Shopping at the market would be much more enjoy if it was located in Oz Park (the vendors' tables could be lined up along the interior sidewalks under the shade of the trees). The parking lot at the high school could then be used for free parking for market goers.
ReplyDeleteThe market on Clark st. just East of Clark street competes with this one. Also parking would increse attendance.Maybe valet parking. Or get the banks to allow parking. Let them be useful for once to the community.
ReplyDeleteDear Alderman Daley - I am a very passionate supporter of the Lincoln Park Farmer's Market and have been attending it for the 16 years I've lived in the neighborhood. I am also a marketing professional, and do a lot of work with market research - I would be happy to assist with this endeavor however I can. I would strongly suggest that you do some quantitative research rather than relying on anecdotes to make these decisions.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the elephant in the room: The Lincoln Park Farmer's Market's decline directly correlates to the opening of the Green City Market on Saturdays.
Obviously, restricting the Green City Market to Wednesdays again would be the obvious first choice. However I realize that this is impractical, unfair to the farmers who are doing a great business there and therefore unlikely.
The key, therefore, is to find out why people go to Green City instead of LPFM. Having two farmer's markets in such close proximity on the same day is a challenge, and LPFM somehow needs to differentiate itself while still providing the great vendors which continues to draw folks like me. For example: Perhaps one of the reasons people go to Green City instead of LPFM is because there is a parking lot?
Other options:
- We need more high-quality vendors. The addition of the egg/meat people this year was great. More organic folks would be fabulous.
- I can't speak to the food option except to say that I go there to shop not to eat.
- Find out if Green City places limits on number of vendors and, if so, if the "rejected" vendors would like to come to Lincoln Park instead.
But this is a chicken and egg thing: No great farmer is going to want to come to Lincoln Park if he/she won't make enough money to justify it.
My two cents. I'd be delighted to discuss further.
My comments relate to the Farmer's Market at Lincoln Park HS. I like this market and and frequent it often. It is a nice change from the Green City Market in Lincoln Park. I feel the prices are more reasonable and the offerings are just as good (except for organic vs. not). My suggestion is to create a French Market theme. There is an awesome market in the downtown Wheaton area every Saturday morning/early afternoon, May - October. They offer a variety of things from fruits and vegetables to jewelry, soaps, etc. Perhaps this would be a welcome change to this area and something different. I would also move the vendors in closer proximity to one another, perhaps on one side of the parking lot. I hope this market is NOT canceled due to lack of interest. I am glad to hear that there is an interest in making changes to it. It needs some help.
ReplyDeleteI'm responding to your item on the Lincoln Park Farmer's Market, a topic near and dear to my heart. I believe that attendance at the Lincoln Park Farmer's Market has been severely affected by Green City. Green City is the trendy place to go and the two draw primarily from the same consumer market. As a result, the number of vendors at Lincoln Park is way down this year. It's become a vicious cycle. I've been to both all summer, but have settled on Lincoln Park because of pricing, not having to fight the crowds, and selection of specific products that I like to purchase. So what is missing at Lincoln Park?
ReplyDeleteBakery items -- Red Hen used to be there with fresh bread and is not this year. There also used to be at least two vnedors with sweet bakery items -- there are none this year. I seem to remember that one of them was an Amish family from Indiana. So adding fresh bread and other bakery items would be a plus. For a few years you could even get a cup of coffee, but no longer.
The prepared food vendors have also disappeared. This may be a function of the economy, but there used to be someone selling pasta sauce. They had a great Arrabiatta (I probably spelled it wrong), but they haven't been there at all this summer. I believe they also sold salsa. Vendors with prepared foods seem to generate a lot of traffic by letting customers have little tastes. Green City vendors in the winter do a lot of that.
Last summer I bought some wonderful honey from a vendor from a community garden that was located somewhere near Garfield Park. They were only at Lincoln Park for a couple of weeks last summer, but maybe there are other groups like that from around the city who could come.
Music helps, too. There are lots of local musical groups that I would think would be thrilled to play. Please, just don't make it too loud and put it at the west end of the parking lot so it doesn't interfere with foot traffic through the market and conversations with the vendors.
Some restaurants have cooking classes that they bring to the market. The last few weeks a class from Erwin's has been at Lincoln Park as part of their class. What a great way to increase traffic and some of those people are bound to come back on their own once the class is over. Maybe more restaurants or cooking schools could be encouraged to bring a class to Lincoln Park.
A little advertising might also help. Some of the vendors are at both Lincoln Park and Green City and their prices tend to be better at Lincoln Park -- though if that gets advertised, prices will probably go up at Lincoln Park and we don't want that. There are also items you can get only at Lincoln Park -- plain, old-fashioned tomatoes rather than pricey heirloom ones and small, pickling cucumbers are just two examples. You can also get great recipe ideas from the vendors. I find Green City vendors too busy to chat with customers and many times, they're employing hired help who are just there to sell. That's less the case at Lincoln Park. At Lincoln Park you can often talk with someone who actually works the farm -- some of them are the third and fourth generation on the farm. What better way to know you are eating local.
Those are my thoughts, for what they're worth. I'd really hate to see Lincoln Park go away.
As for the farmers market, we have been very disappointed and concerned this year. Some of our favorite vendors have abandoned the Lincoln Park H.S. market for whatever reason. We spoke to one--Green Acres--and they said that they make enough money at the competing Green City Market in the park, and can't justify having two booths at once. I think that is what has been happening with a number of vendors. Some of our favorite vendors are still hanging in, like Matt's for flowers, and some have a presence in both markets, like Nichols' Farm. But we are worried that eventually the LPHS market might disappear.
ReplyDeleteThe Green City Market is lovely, but many of the offerings are more expensive, and it is further away. If you need to drive there (such as due to disabilities) the cost of parking is very high. I am surprised that the city does not offer free (not just discounted) parking for those few hours--is that parking facility also part of the demon LAZ? Also, there is a bit of "attitude" at Green City (the "we're better because we're organic/sustainable/trendier" kind of attitude) that does not exist at LPHS.
Given the economy, we can certainly understand that some of the smaller vendors cannot afford to serve multiple markets. Perhaps one answer might be to switch LPHS to Sundays? I don't think that switching to a weekday would be feasible, because they would not be able to attract enough people on a workday (Green City on Wednesdays does benefit from being on a busy bus route). Of course, the vendors might prefer to have Sunday as a day of rest to be with their own families. I don't know if there are other Sunday markets in Chicago, and if they are successful.
In any event, we have observed that the number of vendors has markedly declined this year from previous years, and that is of great concern. It is difficult to know if attendance has also been down, given that this is a bit of a chicken-and-egg scenario; is attendance down because there are fewer vendors, or are there fewer vendors because they fear attendance will be down?
We have been patronizing the LPHS market ever since its inception, and have even made friends with some of the vendors. If they leave our neighborhood, I think it would be very sad.
regarding the farmer's market. I think the reason it's down is because of the green market , Wednesday, over in the park.
ReplyDeleteI went to the farmers market in the park on wednesday and it seemed more neighborly friendly than Armitage. There was seating around. There were vendors with ready to eat foods. There was music, There was a cooking demonstration by a chef. Yeah, our farmers market could be enhanced with similar attractions. This could be further enhanced with vendors of arts and craft items as well.
ReplyDeleteFurther, I'd like to suggest that it be developed to include a yard-sale area. The economy is right for that now. Having one on your own is not conducive for residents in apartments and condos of which there are many in the neighborhood. Rental turnovers are still prolific in our neighborhood and would generate need besides stable home owners. For a nominal fee folks can reserve a space (rent tables) and rid of their 'stuff' to those who are looking for just that item.
On that note a similar endeavor could develop a year round antique flea market in our neighborhood. (ala 26th & Broadway area in NYC).
Some things to consider.
Suggestion to make the Lincoln market better.
ReplyDeleteMove it into a grassy, treed area around the school or in Oz Park and open the high school parking lot for free parking during the market.
Vi and team, thanks for the great alerts and e-newsletters. Regarding your request for input about the Farmers' Market...we have found over the year's that the prices have gone up and up. A few years back it was cheaper and more fun to go to the farmers' market, but now it seems that it is just as expensive as the grocery stores. Adding music and activities will add to the feel that this is becoming more and more commercialized rather than a simple, no frills, cost efficient way to get good produce direct from the farms. It has lost is simplicity as it is.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to the LPH Farmers Market, I think one of the issues the market faces may be location. When one has the option of walking to a market located amongst the trees in beautiful Lincoln Park or going to one located in a dusty hot parking lot on a congested street I think the choice is obvious. I guess I never realized it was called the 'Lincoln Park High School' market. Do proceeds benefit the school?
ReplyDeleteThe farmers' market is declining mainly because of overall market conditions. Don't "cutesy" it up! Maybe there are too many of them around town, duh! And they should be allowed to compete with each other, as much as I'm not that crazy about totally free market situations. If the sellers can't figure it out....then... The Lincoln Park market isn't that far away, after all. Or should ours become more organically-oriented? That sort of goes without saying. Or change the product mix.
ReplyDeleteWe often go the the parking lot farmers market but we just as often go to the green market, even though it can be more expensive. Why? There is much more variety at the green market.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the LP market to the Green Market BECAUSE it does not have children's activities, seating, entertainment. I want to shop for produce, cheese, bread, etc. and not have the ancilliary activities. Having said that, what it needs is more farmers. Perhaps cooking demonstrations, coffee vendor. juice/smoothy vendors would help increase the interest of both sellers and buyers. One summer the high school sold waffles or pancakes to shoppers and that was a big hit. A vendor selling a simple breakfast might increase traffic.
ReplyDeleteI think that the existence of 2 farmers markets within a few blocks of each other on the same day is bad for both markets. The Market on Clark St has available parking, while the High School Market does not.
ReplyDeleteThe High School Market could be less spread out and have parking available on the west end, as was in the early days. This would help tremendously.
Yes, a tent area with seats and juice might be attractive to many
people. Music would be nice too.
It would be a real shame to lose this market. Many of us rely on the market and do not want to pay the high prices of organic stuff. Real cooks from all around the city come to the Saturday market at the High School to get really good ingredients. Organic is not universally desired by cooks.
I'd go if they had more or all organic vendors (something Green City hasn't even been able to achieve but more demand means more incentive for farmers to make the switch!).
ReplyDeleteI don't see the parking at the Green City market as a plus for them. It costs $8 for 2 hours! I think the LPHS market is better -- I have always been able to find street parking, and even with the increase in meter fees, it is a cheaper alternative
ReplyDeleteIf the market could be in OZ park, with the school lot used for parking, that would be great!
I would LOVE to see kids activates there. A petting zoo and maybe a stand with crepes or something so you could turn a trip there into breakfast or lunch
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to see kids activates there. A petting zoo and maybe a stand with crepes or something so you could turn a trip there into breakfast or lunch
ReplyDeletethe biggest competition to the LPHS Farmers Market is the Green City Market. Why not move the GCM to Sunday
ReplyDeleteImprovements for Farmers market
ReplyDeleteMore vendors
Better quality vendors
Organic vendors
Seems a bit dirty, not sure why?
More flower vendors
As to the Lincoln Park Farmer's Market, we love this market and want to see it continue to succeed. Having more organic and healthful food options (e.g.. more organic produce, whole wheat baked goods, grass fed beef, organic dairy, etc.) would definitely help it better compete with Green City Market.
ReplyDeletethe LP Farmers Market is really sad - only half (or so) the vendors as before I figure that everyoen is going to GreenMarket and the City will shut down this locatilon,. But I hope not - it's more convenient to walk or park and more "ordinary" and wonderful for families and dogs. I hope it keeps on.....
ReplyDeleteI dont think it needs anythign else- just more vendors and more atendees - as in previous years
Everyone is going to the Green City Market. That’s the Lincoln Park Farmer’s market competition. Whatever can be added to the Lincoln Park Market that is similar to Green City will help bring more buyers to Lincoln Park.
ReplyDeleteI had been a frequent buyer at the Farmer's Market in Lincoln Park. This year I went once because parking was such a night mare. High parking prices, traffic foot patrol issuing tickets and tow trucks were out like Vultures. It was not worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteI actually had friends and family bring me things from the suburbs or went there myself. Even took a trip to Michigan to enjoy the experience.
Sad but true,
Thank you for asking for input.
Great suggestions above, specifically doing
ReplyDeleteconsumer research to learn of community needs and wants. Also love the Oz Park venue suggestion with LPHS parking lot used for FM parking.
JCK
I, too, love the Lincoln Park Farmer's Market. But I've gone less this year because there are fewer vendors. I'd love to see the fair trade coffee return and Heartland Meats, as well as having more organic meat and dairy products (bottled yogurt, eggs) and produce and the addition of high quality, healthful breads.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I'd prefer LPHS not become too much like Green City, which, to me, is often too crowded and distracting what with its prepared food stalls and demos to really enjoy.
One thing I was surprised about: I actually thought I should shop Green City over LPHS because Green City was "organic," only to go there and discover most of the vendors aren't organic. In fact, they're my same LPHS vendors, only they're no longer at LPHS.
Any chance of having a CSA drop-off site at the LPHS market? Perhaps those folks would purchase stuff other than veggies. I believe the Andersonville market may be a CSA pickup site.
Meanwhile, let's vote with our dollars and keep shopping LPHS!
I love the low key atmosphere of the LPHS market where I have been shopping since it opened.
ReplyDeletePlease don't let it become a food booth, music fest, etc like Green City!
Contrary to what a post said, there are two bakeries, I buy from them every week.
Maybe a coffee vendor and some benches would be nice.
Could a deal be made with the "wonderful" new parking meter company to allow free half hour parking on Armitage during the market hours?
I agree. Keep it SIMPLE. Produce from farms at a nice price. If I want a smoothie, I'll go to a smoothy shop. I want fruit, vegies and flowers at a nice price. I don't want another block party. I buy my coffee at CBA and walk over to the market.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am sure that shoppers can have lots of great ideas, it seems to me that the vendors are the most important contributors. They should have the opportunity to weigh in with their ideas.
ReplyDeleteAs stated in my earlier post, the vendors should have some ideas. So this morning I spoke to several of them. Most of the following suggestions were given without prompting from me.
ReplyDelete#1 There has to be a porta-pottie.
#2 There should be no less than four garbage containers.
#3 Parking is a problem. People get tickets. Maybe there could be a flashing hazards zone on Saturday. (at least five cars were ticketed on Burling whilst I was there).
#4 There needs to be a seating area, preferably under a tent.
#5. There needs to be a coffee vendor.
#6. A donut vendor would be good (maybe a high school fund raiser).
#7. There needs to be a children's attraction.
#8. There needs to be music--but not a tap dancer on a platform with a boom box, and not a loud rock band, but maybe a blues, or quiet jazz group.
Observations:
#1. There is confusion with "Green Market" in Lincoln Park and Lincoln Park Market.
#2. One vendor says there is too great a cost to vendors compared to GM; one month here equals a season at GM.
#3. Some vendors said there should be more vendors, but some said there were too many fruit vendors. The numbers by type should be regulated.
#4. Some vendors dont appreciate the fact that it takes more than one year to build a following.
#5. Some vendors said they were doing OK, but have experienced some loss of business. Others consider pulling out because of lost business.
#6. Some would love to discuss the future with the Alderman and shoppers.
The Green Market is a much better market. LPhS market doesn't even come close regarding Organic vendors. If you want more attendance, then change the day of the LPHS market to SUNDAY so it doesn't 'compete' with Green City Market and increase Organic Vendors. OR is there a better location LPhs market can be moved to that would have better parking available and make it farther away from Green City? Another playlot perhaps that will not be as close to the Green City Market? I think the location is so close to each other, they just compete with each other on a Saturday. Somewhere by Diversey golf course so you can use that parking and the St. Joes lot?
ReplyDeleteI love LPHS market and go weekly. As with many of the prior posts, I go for the fresh fruit and veggies and avoid Green City because of the congestion, chaos, prices and carnival atmosphere. Asking the opinion of the vendors is appropriate as well as adding more food vendors (fresh pasta, honey, unique peanut butters, spices, etc.) Love the idea of moving to Oz Park with the High School lot for parking. Green City parking is NOT convenient because it is so expensive and street parking there is a nightmare. Please keep LPHS market.
ReplyDeletereduce the fee for vendors at LP
ReplyDeleteallow 15 minute parking with lights flashing on Burling onbSaturdays when the market is open
have an aldermanic service booth at the Lp market
ask the vendors what they think would make the market more successful.
allan mellis
Lots of great comments and ideas here. I definitely agree with the folks who say "don't add music, kids activities, cooking demos" etc. It is really difficult getting around the Green City Market with its obstacle course of dogs, kids, and bikes. We need a place to shop, not another Navy Pier.
ReplyDeleteAs for the folks who think that GCM is superior to LPHS because it carries "organic" foods, let me interject a bit of reality into this argument. There are no--repeat NO--consistent standards, legal or otherwise, that govern the use of the term "organic" in this country as it pertains to farmers. There are various organizations which "certify" a farm or vendor as organic (for a large fee...) but this certification is rarely affordable for a small family farm in Illinois or Michigan. Moreover, the notion that "organic" and "heirloom" (the latter more properly called "open-pollinated") produce is better, healthier, or tastier. Produce grown by larger farmers who can afford to buy a seal of approval is not de facto better for you than produce lovingly grown by a small family-owned farm that takes great care not to jeopardize the food supply (after all, they eat it, too). If you bother to read labels on dairy products sold by Whole Foods, for example, you will find that many of these lovely "little" dairy farms are actually owned by large industrial concerns.
As a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener who manages our online plant clinic, I have done much research on this topic. And I believe that people who buy only so-called organic foodstuffs are at best paying a premium for food of dubiously better quality, and at worst are foodie snobs who are being scammed.
As for S.S. the marketing specialist who offered in his/her post to do research on the subject, I certainly hope he/she is offering to do this for free, and not looking for this to become a business opportunity. I am a retired marketing executive myself, and feel that it is readily apparent by reading all the above posts what the main problems are without doing "market research": competition from the GCM and its perceived superiority because of organic vendors, entertainment venues, and cooked food vendors, and parking issues. I for one am rather tired of over-zealous police who ticket cars of folks buying broccoli...so they can get in their quotas and go to lunch (parking illegally themselves in front of neighborhood restaurants).
A great many excellent potential solutions have been proposed in the above posts, such as making our market a CSA drop-off point, or providing benches for weary shoppers. And input from the vendors themselves is very valuable; what would it take, for example, for Red Hen and Green Acres to return to our market? I would suggest that Alderman Daley consider either polling the ward on these suggestions, and/or putting together a focus group of concerned residents and vendors. I would be delighted to participate in any follow-up---for free.
In my opinion, the LPHS should retain the character of a neighborhood market benefitting its residents as well as Midwestern farmers. We in Lincoln Park take enough flak as it is for being "yuppies", we don't need another GCM any more than we need all those international cosmetics stores on Armitaqe.
I love the LPHS farmers market and have been going for many years. It has been sad to see the decline in vendors and customers this past summer. I tend to agree with people who think the reason for the decrease is the competition of the GCM. The vendors/farmers at the LPHS market are nice, hard-working people. I like that the atmosphere is more of a solid, midwestern low-key feel. I don't want the commercialization that is the GCM.
ReplyDeleteOne week I overhead vendors talking about how expensive it was to have a booth at the LPHS market. Please, let's not price them out. Please let's support this market and not let it die.
LPHS farmer's market has been falling short on innovation and the customer experience is suffering. the organizers might find inspiration from the global entries to Redesign Your Farmers Market celebrating LA's 30th year of it's market. The winning and finalists concepts are posted on Good Is.
ReplyDeletewww.good.is/post/redesign-your-farmers-market/
time to pick it up!
Please, no petting zoos, children's activities, flea market or jewelry vendors! Moving to Oz Park will destroy the grass there as it has at the site of Green City Market. Lower the fees for vendors, most of whom are at both markets. Green City is too far to walk and carry purchases home. I have been attending the Lincoln Park Market for 20 years and would hate to see it die off.
ReplyDeletedevoted to the Lincoln Park Farmers Market and hoping it will
ReplyDeletecontinue to serve the neighborhoods it touches for many years.
The vendors are sincere and the atmosphere is not gimmicky.
That said, it it much too spread out and half of the parking
lot could be used for parking that should be advertised in a
big way. At Wcker Park they utilize the part itself and just have
a narrow lane winding along all the vendors. That way you can
comfortably walk the entire market and leave no one out.
The also have more variety and less duplication ..sprouts,
good bakeries with real bread Some of the Lincoln Park
vendors are not real farmers, but people who grab second rate
produce and try to sell it...a certain flower vendor tries to unload
lots of one kind of substandard flowers--sunflowers, etc. Matt's Urban Garden, Nichols Brothers are the backbone and character
of this market. Need benches to sit....need beverages to have some
coffee with baked goods...need more neighborhood presence during
the week with emails, posters and signs about parking to
spread the word. Green City is not an easy place to shop or
get to and there is no parking...it is not a replacement for
Lincoln Park. Nice addition of music on the last weekend.. One
of the vendors suggested moving to Sunday-not a bad idea
if other growers agree.
Sorry for the delayed response re the LPHS Farmers Market, which I have been attending regularly for years. In sum, I think they are getting knocked out by the Green City Market, which I think just has a better marketing organization. There may be some misperceptions about the GCM that pull people to it. The following needs to be confirmed, because it hasn't been appropriately researched, but:
ReplyDeleteNot all vendors at the GCM are organic, but there is a perception that they are.
Some of the vendors that are at LPHS market are also at the GCM.
Prices are higher at GCM, just because of the perception of all organic.
There are more diverse offerings at GCM
If someone in the office could look into these things, and then find a way to communicate to the neighborhood the real differences, and I am right, then I think people might come back to LPHS. If I am not right, then perhaps LPHS should be allowed to die.