Boyne City RMA Successful!
Michigan State University and the Michigan Association of
Farmers Markets (MIFMA) undertook its first Rapid Market Assessment (RMA)
of 2008 this past Saturday, July 26, at the Boyne City Farmers
Market. The weather was beautiful, the team enthusiastic, the
market welcoming and the customers having a wonderful
experience!
Assessment team members included Kelli Joyce, market manager for the new
Canton Township Farmers Market in Southeast Michigan; Danielle Welke,
MIFMA member and market enthusiast who works within MSU's College of
Veterinary Medicine: Lesley Atwood, MSU CARRS graduate student; Patricia
Alameda, MSU CARRS undergraduate; and Monika Kothari, Plymouth Canton
High School senior and MSU Multicultural Apprenticeship Program
participant. They all did a FANTASTIC job! Susan Smalley, Director
of MSU's C.S. Mott Group for Community Food Systems was the team leader
and Jen Lewis, Boyne City Farmers Market Manager, handled local
arrangements. A draft report is being prepared this week for
sharing with the team and host market before finalizing.
Volunteers are still needed for these upcoming
market assessments:
Saturday, August 2: 8:00 AM 2:00 PM
Frankenmuth Farmers Market
Saturday, August 9: 9:00 AM 1:00 PM
Empire & Suttons Bay Farmers Markets
(We'll be covering two Leelanau County Farmers
markets on the same day so we'll need extra team members here.)
We invite current and potential farmers market managers, sponsors,
vendors, friends, MSU students and Extension educators to join us as an
assessment team member. It's a great opportunity to experience a
different farmers market and to learn more about markets in
general. You will learn how to use some simple tools that can help
you conduct research at your own market and in other public venues.
You will meet great people, sample some wonderful food, and have
fun!
If you live near MSU, we can arrange for you to ride with our campus team
to the market sites. If you live near one of the markets hosting an
assessment, we can arrange to meet you there.
If you can help, we'd love to hear from you. Please send me an email
response, and I'll be back in touch to work out details.
Susan
***
Susan Smalley, PhD
Director
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at
Michigan State University
302A Natural Resources Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1222
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517.432.0049 voice
517.353.3834 fax
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