About

 

The Grant Park Farmers Market Overview

The Grant Park Farmers Market (GPFM) will be a pilot program of the Grant Park Conservancy in 2011.The development of the GPFM is being led by the Grant Park Farmers Market Advisory Committee, a sub-committee of the Conservancy, and managed by an experienced urban farmers market team.

Mission: The mission of the Grant Park Farmers Market is to create a vibrant and healthy community space while providing access to – and education about – nutritious food and wellness.

 

The Grant Park Farmers Market will achieve its mission by:

• Increasing access to healthy local food;
• Providing a space for community members to come together and share experiences and build community pride;
• Providing programming to meet the desires of the community, especially as it relates to youth and community development;
• Creating a platform for local farmers, food producers, charity groups, artists, and musicians to market their goods and services; and
• Strengthening of the safety and viability of the oldest park in Atlanta and the surrounding neighborhood.

The Pillars of the Grant Park Farmers Market Are:

• Community
• Health
• Education
• Sustainability

Logistical Details:

Location: The GPFM will be located in the area surrounding the Miledge fountain at the Corner of Cherokee Avenue and Miledge Avenue, inside Grant Park.There will be no more than 32 vendor booths and a welcome booth congregating on either side of the fountain, close to Cherokee Ave.Majority of the booths are approximately 10×10 (a few are smaller) and signage for each vendor is self-contained.This location is ideal because it is the closest in proximity to other points of interest to encourage walking, and does not require vendors to drive in the park to set-up.

Operating Hours. The GPFM will be open 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Sundays May 15^th through November 20^th.Set up will begin at 8:00 am.All booths will be taken down and removed by 3:30 pm.The operating hours have been determined based on preferences of farmers, vendors, and clientele.

Vendors: The GPFM will be a “Producer Only” Farmers Market, meaning that we only allow small, locally produced goods to be at the market, and that the producer (farmer, chef, artisan food maker) needs to be the seller of the good.There is a rigorous application process, which includes an application fee, approval by the board, and a site visit to ensure the goods are being produced by the producer.Vendors are required to have business licenses, liability insurance, and follow all necessary guidelines set out by the USDA and the Department of Health.Vendors must follow this procedure and have pre-approval from the Manager to participate.Action will be taken against any soliciting vendors not meeting these requirements.

Management: The operations of the GPFM are led by the Grant Park Farmers Market Advisory Committee, a sub-committee of the Grant Park Conservancy.The Market Manager is Katie Hayes, who is the Director of the non-profit organization, Community Farmers Markets and the Manager of the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market.There will also be a paid Market Assistant and a team of dedicated volunteers.

Signage. Each vendor has self contained signage for their booth, including the welcome booth.  There are also a few wooden signs to be put up the day of the market at the entrance and other key neighborhood locations (such as the zoo and pool).All signs would be tastefully created, movable, and temporary.

Load in / load out. Set up will begin at 8:30 am with 10 vendors assigned to one of three 30 minute load-in time slots.Each vendor will unload their booth supplies, working with the market manager, intern, and volunteers.  After unloading the supplies at the entrance on Cherokee Avenue, the vendor will then park their vehicle at an off-site location and return to set up their booth.  There will be a cart to help with moving heavy items such as tents, tables, and coolers.  At the end of the market, the vendors will pack up, leave their booth supplies with the staff, and return with their vehicles to pick up.Load-out will be handled in the same manner.There will be no driving in the park.

Parking. Vendor parking will be provided by the Neighborhood Charter School.  It is a key goal of theGPFM to encourage wellness, as such, there will be a large push to promote clientele walking and bicycling to the market rather than driving.

Cleaning and Maintenance. The GPFM management team will be responsible for all cleaning and maintenance as it relates to the activities of the market.Trash and recycling receptacles will be provided.However, the Grant Park Conservancy will continue to be responsible for the regular upkeep of the Park and the area surrounding the Miledge fountain.

Insurance. The GPFM will carry a $2,000,000 Commercial General Liability Insurance policy.   Additionally, each vendor is required to carry a minimum of a $500,000 liability policy.