Consider a Municipal Farmer’s Market for 2026

Purpose Statement
Farmers markets serve as more than just places to buy wholesome fresh food—they can be community hubs where people gather to socialize, connect with local producers, and engage in community activities. Markets can feature live music, cooking demonstrations, food samples, games, and other events that create a lively and welcoming atmosphere—fostering a sense of community and promoting favorable interactions between neighbors, local businesses, and visitors from beyond Ramsey's borders. These social aspects of a farmers market make them an enjoyable and enriching experience for people—all of which were realized when Ramsey hosted a municipal farmers market a decade ago.

Background (summary)
The City of Ramsey began a municipal farmers market in 2011 and was accommodated at The Draw on concert days from 3 to 7 pm with a deliberate overlap with the concerts that began at 6:30 pm. This formula worked well in the beginning, with concert attendance and market participation, as well as grower and local producer presence increasing in each of the early years. In fact, the popularity of the market and especially the concerts created vehicle parking congestion along the parkway in the late afternoon that ultimately contributed to a decline in grower revenue (because residents wishing to visit the market could not conveniently park near enough). The market was then relocated in 2017 to alleviate the parking frustrations.  This disruption, together with an inability to provide adequate marketing support (including advertising), together with a couple of growers aging out, contributed to a decline in market patronage, which resulted in less revenue, which led to less grower presence and then less attractiveness for purchasers and so on, leading Ramsey's Farmers Market to disappear.

In subsequent years, private parties attempted a farmers market held most recently at the Fairway Liquor's parking lot in Ramsey as recently as the early 2020's which also dissolved. Despite these markets' declines, residents still desire a farmers market—and as there are so many community benefits to a local farmers' market—and none in proximity to Ramsey's population center, staff has investigated and organized potential resources for creating a new municipal farmers' market for 2026.

As indicated, there are myriad social and economic benefits to a local farmer's market—as well as aligning with the 'Strategy' from the 2025 Strategic Plan; "Strengthen and enhance our identity, brand and image."  It is for these reasons that pursuing a well-thought-out market for the Summer of 2026 may be considered at this time.  Of further interest, is that the program envisioned would seem to mirror each of the primary goals of the 2025 Strategic Plan:
 

Strategic Plan Goals
Citizen Focused Government	Residents want to support a local farmer's market; creating a market in 2026 would be a direct response to these citizen requests.
Financial Stability	A new market would be proposed with no new impact to the tax levy; further, 1 in 25 Ramsey households receive SNAP benefits, and the market would redeem these benefits for healthy food—routing revenue to local small businesses (the growers).
A Balance of Rural Character and Suburban Growth	Over half of SNAP households in Ramsey consist of residents greater than 60 years in age; this represents many long-time residents that appreciate supports that allow aging in-place. Farmer Markets support small scale agriculture and favorable rural land use at the same time.
An Active, Connected and Engaged Community	Research shows that 78% of farmer's market shoppers report increased fruit and vegetable consumption, resulting in a more healthy citizenry, with residents also benefiting from a sense of community the market begets.
An Effective and Efficient Organization	Engaging volunteers would be a key aspect of the services offered to residents from the market.  A municipal farmers market would provide multiple connections between city departments and the business community, together with opportunities for synergistic cross-promotion.
High Quality Services	Farmer's markets are renown for fresh and more nutritious food, and Ramsey's municipal market would be well-organized with the right ratio of offerings, programming and services.

 For the meeting, staff will present a model of what a 2026 farmer's market would entail, noting also that to ensure success and to attract quality growers and producers, that program development would need to be underway by January 2026 for a June 23 debut.

As the planning for a potential 2026 Farmers Market appears at this time, staff believes that no 'new' General Fund monies would be required and that the market can be managed as a financially self-contained endeavor, as had been done a decade before.  This operating revenue would begin for 2026 with the $2,443 balance in the city's Farmers Market 'account' remaining from 2016. Additional revenue may be summarized by:

~ Vendor and food truck participation fees (16 weeks) +/- $5,000

~ Anoka County Dept, of Health funding for city/volunteer booth tables, tents signs and tokens etc. $500–$1,500

~ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Electronic Benefit Transfer machines (MDH or Anoka Co.) $250

~ On-site management of the SNAP/EBT transactions by the Ramsey Community Foundation volunteers, a $4,650 value

Additional details on the market model (money in/money out, and program elements) will be presented at the meeting.

Staff requests input on whether planning should continue with respect to developing a municipal farmers market for 2026.

Concensus direction on whether a farmers market is desired for 2026, or a subsequent year.