Did you know that Minnesota has 375 farmers markets? Out of all these places of friendly commerce, the Lincoln Park Farmers Market (LPFM), operated by Community Action Duluth, has been chosen by the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association as the state’s representative for National Farmers’ Market Week. Join the largest market celebration in the state at the LPFM on August 8, located at 3002 W. 3rd St. in Duluth.
So how did this West Duluth farmers market, in operation since 2017, make its meteoric rise to state stardom?
Northern Wilds reported last year on Community Action Duluth’s wide-ranging efforts to address food justice in Duluth (see “Making Food Accessible to All,” September 2023 issue). The non-profit holds the Hillside Farmers Market on Tuesday afternoons in the Essentia Hospital parking lot on East 3rd Street in Duluth, as well as the Lincoln Park Farmers Market on Thursday afternoons, from early June through late October. These markets harness federal grant money for providing food access by subsidizing EBT matches and “Market Bucks,” as well as by giving away $4 in PoP (Power of Produce) tokens for any child under 18 or adult over 60 to buy fresh, local produce at the markets. Community Action Duluth also operates the Mobile Market—a refrigerated van that brings food directly to people with mobility issues and sells them groceries at cost.
This year, Community Action Duluth’s herculean efforts to support healthy, local food chains and family vendors have received the state’s highest farmers market accolade. Sina War, engagement and inclusion director at the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association, explains the selection procedure: “The Minnesota Farmers Market Association leads the annual statewide celebration with Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Grown, and Land Stewardship Project as key partners. MFMA serves nine different regions of the state through public policy, marketing, and education. Each year, we select a farmers market in one of the nine regions. Our goal was to find a market in the Duluth area that could serve as a statewide example of food access programs, so we reached out to Lincoln Park Farmers Market.”
Sam Lindblad, food justice specialist and market organizer for Community Action Duluth, says the news came as a surprise: “It doesn’t feel quite real yet. I didn’t realize going into this that the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association only picked one market for the entirety of the state to represent the national farmers’ market week. I was thinking maybe they pick one per region, and do festivities all week long, but no, it’s just one market for the whole state, for one day. I was like, ‘OK, it’s kind of a big deal.’”
The accolade is a reflection of the increased food access that the markets provide in two of Duluth’s poorer communities. The two markets are seeing increased attendance by both patrons and vendors.
Kayla Pridmore, the other half of Community Action Duluth’s dynamic market organizer duo, uses the amount of EBT subsidies distributed at markets as a metric for measuring market success. “We have been breaking EBT records week after week,” Pridmore said in late June. “The season is already feeling tremendous. I feel like we’re finally hitting our stride of getting the critical mass of people, and a variety of vendors.”
Lindblad and Pridmore’s personal touch have been keys to the two markets’ fast growth. But Lindblad credits vendors with leading the way. “So many of our vendors actually started as customers. They came to the market and had a great time, and want to be involved in another way, and grow their own small business,” she says.
Pridmore, in turn, has high praise for Lindblad’s work at introducing small family businesses to market sales: “Sam does such a nice job of making vendors feel like ‘Yeah, you can do this. And we can help you. We’ll walk you through the steps.’ She really goes out of her way.”
But it wasn’t just growth in numbers of attendees and sales that persuaded the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association to choose LPFM for the state’s top market celebration. Lindblad and Pridmore were attending an extracurricular meeting with the state association at which two of the market’s vendors, Mark and Mary Stone McConnell, piped up. “They just spoke the praises of the market, and said this is the best market in the area. They said it’s a great place to be a vendor, and a customer. It was really nice to hear feedback from them, because it’s such a big part of my job to support these vendors,” recounts Lindblad.
So, what’s happening at the big event itself on August 8? Sina War says the event will start at 3 p.m. with guest speakers: “As part of the celebration, we invite state leaders to speak at the market. To honor the legislative wins that support farmers, we’ve invited Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham to present the Governor’s Proclamation for National Farmers Week to the Lincoln Park Farmers Market.” Dr. Cunningham will be followed up with short speeches by MN state representative Liish Kozlowski and senator Jennifer McEwen, as well as Duluth City Council member Therese Tomanek.
The state legislators will then get to test their skills at racing zucchini cars (come see for yourself!) with the kids at the market. The event is also about celebrating local vendors and their fresh produce, of course. The market will have its greatest number of vendors for the season, and lots of giveaways.
There will also be a communal meal: “You know us, we’re gonna feed folks,” says Pridmore, famous for cooking mass amounts of paella on a huge pan at the markets. “This time we’re doing a community meal with Duluth Grill.”
Come get a taste for yourself on August 8 from 3-6 p.m