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Parks board presses to recruit produce vendors, proposes partnering with Fairview for weekly market
Summary
Board members reported 102 vendor applicants remain after screening and emphasized the need for fruit, vegetable and dairy vendors; a member proposed alternating weekly markets with Fairview to give vendors weekly exposure while the board pursues targeted outreach and marketing.
The Parks & Open Space Board spent the bulk of its meeting on planning for the 2026 Lucas Farmers Market, pressing staff on vendor mix and outreach strategies to bring perishable goods—particularly produce, milk and cheese—back to the market.
“We started with a 127, and we've deferred 25 of those. And so there's a 102 left,” the Chair said, summarizing staff’s current application tally. Members and staff discussed removing habitual no-shows, favoring long-standing vendors, and using targeted outreach (schools, local farms, and volunteers) to recruit perishable-item sellers.
One member proposed a cross‑municipal approach to improve vendor frequency: “I want to propose that we approach Fairview ... To where they host it one week and we host it one week,” the member said, suggesting alternating locations so vendors can serve customers every week and increase marketing reach.
Staff cautioned that if the market continues losing produce vendors it risks becoming primarily an arts-and-crafts venue rather than a traditional farmers market. “This was started as a farmer's market, which is centered around the produce and the perishables,” another board member said, urging a strategy to retain and recruit perishable goods vendors.
The board directed staff to continue vendor vetting, track habitual no-shows, and expand outreach to neighboring communities and school groups to widen the pool of potential produce and dairy vendors.
