February has been super busy at the Market, the weather has been unbelievable! Last Saturday we hosted our Annual Farmers Market Vendors Meeting, we had about 85 vendors in attendance. Once a year we meet to go over the markets rules and regulations, update vendors on what is happening in the neighborhood and what to expect in 2017. Since the City Market participates in the SNAP ( Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Double Up Food Bucks Program we are required to train our vendors each year to ensure everyone complies with the government guidelines and understands how the program works. It is always great to see all the vendors together again, trust me there is a lot of catching up going on at this meeting.

Wednesday, Sarah Adams (Assistant Farmers Market Manager) and I took a break from working on contracts and visited one of our Sunday craft vendors. Kelly Daniels and her children have been vending at the City Market for a few years and have decided to change up what they make, the perfect time to check things out. The Daniels’ are switching from making tutu’s and flower barrettes to everything perler beads. Perler beads are small heat activated beads you can use to create any kind of design. Kelly and her children make mostly minecraft, minions, pokeymon, sports logos and super heroes. They will do special orders while at the market using a photo provided by the customer. I was amazed that they can also create a person’s face from perler beads. Their prices range from a $1.00 key chain to a $50 large wall hanging. The Daniels will start vending at the market in another month or so and are located in the first covered pavilion in stall 5.

Next week Sarah and I are planning on visiting an auction in Missouri and a few vendors that have greenhouses which should be full of bedding and vegetable plants. I can’t wait; nothing makes you ready for spring like walking through isles of beautiful plants.