In case you haven’t heard the exciting news, the Chequamegon Food Co-op and the Ashland Area Farmer’s Market recently agreed to a year-long management partnership. This agreement calls for the Co-op to provide a market manager and supply marketing support for the farmer’s market. The Ashland Area Farmer’s Market brings together local food and craft vendors from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday on the 200 block of Chapple Avenue in downtown Ashland from June through October. The first day of this year’s market is Saturday, June 1, 2013.
“The Co-op is always looking for ways to increase access to healthy, organic, and locally produced goods,” says Marketing Manager Meagan Van Beest. “By partnering with the Ashland Area Farmer’s Market, we hope to increase awareness of the variety of local food we have available in the Chequamegon Bay area.”
Chequamegon Food Co-op’s Local Food Projects Coordinator Alan Spaude-Filipczak will assume market manager duties for the 2013 market season. He will work with the farmer’s market board of directors and the Co-op marketing manager to develop a marketing plan that includes events, samples, merchandise, and entertainment. The Co-op will co-sponsor special events on the second Saturday of each full market month, with Bike Day in June, Kids’ Day in July, Taste of the Bay in August, and Harvest Fest in September.
Thanks to the Ashland Area Farmer’s Marketing for partnering with the Co-op. We look forward to a summer filled with great local foods. For more information about Farmer’s Market please visit www.ashlandareafarmersmarket.com.