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Market chair outlines weekly 'farm‑to‑table' mini markets and grant push
Summary
Market leadership told the Lucas City Council it will add weekly 'farm‑to‑table' mini markets during the main growing season, pursue Go Texan and other grants (roughly $500–$15,000), and adopt new traffic‑counting methods to refine attendance estimates of about 10,000–12,000 annual visitors.
The Lucas farmers market will test weekly "farm‑to‑table" mini markets in late spring and early summer to give small growers a regular outlet for perishable produce, the market chair told the City Council on Feb. 6.
"The mission of the farmers market really has not changed since its inception," the market chair (Presenter, S9) said, explaining the proposal to add smaller, lower‑support events that would run weekly during peak growing months and scale back to biweekly or monthly as temperatures rise. He told council staff expect the mini markets to require reduced city staffing and no large special events during those weeks.
Council and staff pushed for better data to guide the change. The presenter said the city will use an updated traffic‑counting approach that leverages cellular‑data estimates to get a clearer attendance picture; he estimated "about 10,000 to 12,000 attend the market every year." Staff noted vendor mix typically runs about 30–40% local participants and that staffing plans would reduce nonexempt market staff from three people to two for regular markets while assigning one staffer for the mini markets.
The market team plans vendor and customer surveys this season to measure vendor needs and customer preferences. The presenter also said the market will actively pursue grant funding — including Go Texan opportunities through the Texas Department of Agriculture — with potential awards ranging from roughly $500 to $15,000 to help with promotion and events.
Council members praised the market's community value and the proposed experiment. Mayor/Chair (S1) called the market "a highlight of our town" and encouraged continued evaluation after this season. The council did not take formal action on the market plan at the meeting.
