Farmer's Market Study Expanded
By 250 News
Last year’s research on the Prince George Farmer’s Market proved to be so successful, the research is being expanded.
Professor David Connell from UNBC says funding has been secured to conduct more research at similar markets in 20-30 areas throughout B.C.
Connell says the research will focus on the economic impact of Farmer’s Markets throughout the province. "Once again, we will use the flip chart survey asking customers a series of questions" says Connell, "But we will also be interviewing customers one on one for a bit more detail. We will want to know how the farmers market fits into their shopping habits. We will also talk to neighbouring businesses to measure the impact of a market on their traffic and sales."
Last year, Connell’s team concluded that any downtown development should include the Farmer’s Market as it is a natural draw to Prince George’s core.
This time ’round Connell says the questions will be expanded to address consumer choices "We want to know consumer preferences, and the factors that contribute to their choices on food shopping, factors like organic products, or the importance of a product being locally grown."
The research is being jointly funded by the BC Association of Farmer’s Markets, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and there are "in kind" donations. In total, the project is estimated to be worth $100 thousand dollars.
Most of the dollars will be used to cover travel for the the 2 undergrads and one Masters student who will be criss crossing the province gathering the information. The team hopes to be setting up an information booth at the P.G. Farmer’s Market in August.
The final report is expected to be ready for release in the late fall.
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Posted by: owl on May 27 2006 9:01 AM
You can count the number of farmers at the market who have sufficient product to not be sold out in 2 hours on one hand.
It is a wonderful social event for 5 hours per week during the summer on good weather days.
What would be nice to have in this community is a Public Market on a scaled down version of those located in the GVRD in such locations as Lonsdale, Granville Island, New Westminster, etc., the same as in many other cities throughout North America.
I would like to see one which is open all day, every day, summer and winter, constructed similar to the glassed entranceway of the Save-on-foods at College heights.
Imagine, produce of all varieties, meat and poultry, seafood, baked goods, flowers, specialty foods - herbs and spices, preserves, honey, pasta, etc - coffee shops, restaurants .....
You know, the rugular fare of viable urban living.
The study is not about what, the sutdy is about "how".
"What" is obvious. How to accomplish it in a small community that cocoons in its suburbs and dislikes its downtown is the question.
http://www.seegranvilleisland.com/market/market.htm
http://www.mccullagh.org/db9/d30-34/loback-meat-co.jpg
Here is a public market in Viroqua Wisconsin - population 5,000 or so, about 200 km from Madison.
http://www.viroquamainststation.com/index.html
Would it survive if it was copied here? I doubt it.