Seeking volunteers and vendors
The Cleveland Farmers Market will open on Saturday, June 4 in downtown Cleveland. The kick-off event will feature music from Deep Roots musician Mississippi Mason and will begin at 8:30 a.m. Situated along the north end of the greenstrip near the walking trail, the summer farmers market welcomes community members who migrate downtown every Saturday morning to purchase fresh produce, baked goods, and other seasonal wares from local and regional vendors.
The market is still seeking vendors for this season, and encourages local growers to sign up. The application is available on the Cleveland, MS Farmers Market Facebook page, as well as the LinkTree account with detailed market procedures. Interested vendors can access the information online at https://linktr.ee/clevelandmsfarmersmarekt.
The market, which has been completely volunteer-run since 2013, is also asking the community for volunteer support in the coming weeks. On Saturday mornings, volunteers would be responsible for collecting and setting up the market tent, answering questions from vendors and market attendees, handing out educational and promotional materials, collecting donations, and selling market merchandise to raise funds for the downtown market.
“The market provides a space for literally anyone who grows or produces their own food to come and sell it to our community. In fact, several businesses have emerged from the market, including Our Delta Table, and Cypress Bread Co,” said Ryan Betz, volunteer market coordinator. “We operate on less than $2,000 a year, and we are volunteer driven. Our market is very fragile still, and underestimated in its full potential. I hope that this year we really begin some solid partnerships with our local government and economic organizations!”
Those who are interested in volunteering are invited to attend a market training session at the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, June 2 at noon. There, they will learn about the process for market set-up and operations, and can sign up for weekends to volunteer during the summer. Interested individuals or volunteer organizations should call the Chamber at 662-843-2712 for details.
“Many visitors to our city have remarked about how impressed they are with our farmers’ market. Students at Delta State and people from all over Mississippi and throughout the U.S. visit weekly!” said Mickey Sellers, a repeat vendor at the downtown market. “Not only does the market benefit local farmers but also small entrepreneurs. It’s refreshing to drink a cool glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade on a hot summer morning and visit with friends and guests. There is also nothing better than fresh homegrown vegetables, especially a sloppy home-grown tomato sandwich”.
Market attendees can expect new and returning vendors like CS&S Nursery, Landscape and Farm, WildFlower Baking, Off the Vine, and Cypress Bread Co. at the kick-off weekend, with other groups joining in throughout the season.
“The Cleveland Farmers Market is such a special community event. It’s been around for at least 15 years and I’m still amazed that I come across people who live here who didn’t even realized it existed!” Betz added.
For more information on the Cleveland, MS Farmers Market, follow them on Facebook.