Columbia Farmers Market Inc

COLUMBIA FARMERS MARKET VENDOR MARKETING

COLUMBIA FARMERS MARKET (CFM) WILL MARKET TO NEW AND BEGINNING VENDORS IN MIDMISSOURI TO SELL AT THE WEDNESDAY MARKET. THE NEW STARTER WEDNESDAY MARKET CREATES A MARKET ACCESS POINT FOR BEGINNING PRODUCERS TO SELL THEIR WARES TO THE MIDMISSOURI COMMUNITY AND GIVES THEM THE SPACE AND TIME TO SCALEUP THEIR PRODUCTION, TO SELL AT THE SATURDAY MARKET EVENTUALLY. THE ESTABLISHED SATURDAY MARKET HAS MAXED OUT ON AVAILABLE STALL SPACE, AND THE 6,000 CUSTOMER BASE CAN BE A DAUNTING VENTURE FOR NEW AND BEGINNING PRODUCERS. CFM WILL RECRUIT NEW VENDORS AND HOLD VENDOR RESOURCE FAIRS BEFORE EACH WEDNESDAY MARKET SEASON TO TEACH POTENTIAL VENDORS ABOUT SELLING AT CFM. MARKETING RESOURCES WILL BE OFFERED TO TEACH VENDORS ABOUT GROWING THEIR BUSINESSES. THROUGH COMMUNITY MINORITY SCHOLARSHIPS, MINORITY VENDORS WILL BE ASSISTED IN ENTERING THE MARKET. A MARKETING FIRM, PHOTOGRAPHER, AND VIDEOGRAPHER WILL BE CONTRACTED TO CREATE PROFESSIONAL MARKETING CONTENT FOR PAID AD SPACES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION TO ADVERTISE THE RESOURCE FAIRS AND WEDNESDAY MARKETS. THROUGH TARGETED MARKETING AND RECRUITMENT, THIS PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO ASSIST CFM IN INCREASING VENDOR REVENUE AT THE WEDNESDAY MARKET BY 10 , THE NUMBER OF WEDNESDAY MARKET VENDORS BY 55 , CUSTOMER ATTENDANCE BY 25 , AND 25 OF VENDORS WILL REPORT AN INCREASE IN SALES. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO BENEFIT COLUMBIA CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE (CCUA), CFMS PARTNERS AT COLUMBIAS AGRICULTURE PARK, AND THE PARK AS A WHOLE THROUGH INCREASED EXPOSURE TO THE URBAN FARMING, VOLUNTEER, EDUCATION, AND CHARITABLE WORK BEING PERFORMED THERE BY CCUA.

THE COLUMBIA MISSOURI FARMERS MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM

THE ECONOMIC EXPANSION OF THE COLUMBIA FARMERS' MARKET THROUGH VENDOR AND MANAGER EDUCATION

INCREASE ACCESS TO LOCALLY PRODUCED FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THROUGH EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION FROM A FOOD DESERT, DIRECT MARKETING, AND

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.