Farmer’s Market
City Park Farmer’s Market
City Park Esplanade (East Colfax & Columbine)
Every Saturday, 8am – 1pm, May 13 - October 28
“A farmer’s market is worth more than everything I’ve written.”
The farmer’s market is a sacred place. It is the unique intersection of commerce and community. A farmer’s market cultivates meaningful connection to people and food. It is a culmination of human work and community flourishing.
The City Park Farmer’s Market was established by Peter and Margo Wanberg. It begins its third season on Saturday, May 13. In 3 short years, they have established City Park Farmer’s Market as a hallmark of local food advocacy and community connection.
Each Saturday the market is a unique combination of advocacy for local farmers and food with a celebratory social gathering of neighbors and friends. At the core of our concept is the question, “How do we value food more?”, said Peter Wanberg. He acknowledges the produce and products may be a higher price point, but the produce and products are all local. Buying from local growers, makers, and producers reduces processing, packaging, and transportation waste.
The farmer’s market encourages a geographical approach to our consumption. With 100% of the produce at the City Park Farmer’s Market sold directly by the growers, it cultivates a depth of relationship between the consumer, the grower, and the food. Setting a new standard for local farmer’s markets, Peter and Margo worked to accept food access programs. SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks are accepted to make quality local produce available to all.
The weekly farmer’s market creates a rhythm of business owners becoming friends and friends supporting local businesses. Last season, an average of 3,000 people visited the City Park Farmer’s Market each week. The market has grown to include live music, chef demonstrations, morning yoga, and a running club. They are all creative ways friends of the market have contributed to the community connection and increase the exposure to local farms and food producers.
The farmer’s market is more than a seasonal way of purchasing raw and prepared foods. It provides a place to cultivate an embodied connection to those who grow our food. The farmer’s market is where we learn to value the farmer and the food. The farmer’s market is a sacred place.
