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Working to ensure the success of our local farmers' markets.
Farmers' markets provide direct access to fresh, healthy local food, benefiting regional farmers and local consumers. To that end, LFA provides key support to ensure the financial viability of our local markets, connect consumers to these key local food access points, and raise consciousness about how they benefit our community, environment, and economy.
In April 2020, LFA partnered with the Wood River Farmers Market Association to fund and implement a new e-marketplace that will allow customers to pre-order, pay online and arrange contact-free pick-up at the Ketchum farmers market (with possible expansion to Hailey). LFA will provide technical assistance to implement the platform quickly and effectively, as well as marketing support to raise awareness and build an online customer base.
In 2019, LFA initiated Friends of the Farmers Market, a community advisory and advocacy group whose mission is to support, protect, and promote our local farmers markets. Developed in partnership with Wood River Farmers Markets, the group is made up of farmers market advocates, city leaders, marketing professionals, and others.
In 2016, the Local Food & Wellness Incentive Program, a partnership between Wood River Farmers’ Market, Wood River Community YMCA and LFA, was developed to entice community members and visitors to buy locally grown food. Through the farmers' market season (mid-June through mid-October), purchases of $15 of fresh produce at the Wood River Farmers’ Market in Ketchum and Hailey earn shoppers a free day pass (or additional guest pass for members) to the Wood River Y. Vouchers can be picked up at the red farmers' market tent and redeemed at the Wood River Y (101 Saddle Road in Ketchum) within one year. The vouchers are valued at $6 for youth (age 18 and under) and $16 for adults—the current price of a day pass to the Wood River Y.
A Rapid Market Analysis is a key way for farmers’ markets to collect and analyze baseline data, gain new insights, measure progress, and inform decisions. In 2018, LFA connected Wood River Farmers’ Market with University of Idaho to conduct a Rapid Market Analysis to demonstrate the value of the Ketchum market to our community.
LFA supports our local farmers’ markets through social media posts designed to help drive consumers to the market, create connections to vendors, and build community engagement around locally grown food.
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