Durango Farmers Market, traditionally held every Saturday from May to October at TBK Bank 259 W. Ninth St., is trying something different this year.
The farmers market partnered with the city of Durango and the Business Improvement District to host Second Saturdays on Main Farmers Market, a pilot project that relocates the market to Main Avenue from the 900 to 1200 blocks from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. every second Saturday of the month, from August to October. The venue space is closed to motor traffic during the event.
Visitors to the farmers market on Main Avenue on Saturday were loving it. They noted the increased number of vendors, more space to roam and a greater sense of community.
Between an estimated 2,200 and 2,500 people visited the Main Avenue farmers market, easily double the turnout to a typical market at TBK Bank. Every farmer with a booth sold out, including newer vendors, said Ellen Babers, city community events manager.
Tarik Berrada, who lives near Durango, said he visits the farmers market about twice monthly. He said he is all for permanently moving the Durango Farmers Market – and other festivals and celebrations – to Main Avenue permanently.
“You can’t even park down here anyway, you might as well be walking,” he said.
He said he can’t imagine Main Avenue businesses mind the extra foot traffic.
“This is the best thing ever. It always needs to be shut down,” resident Asher Jaffe said.
He visits the Durango Farmers Market at TBK Bank fairly regularly, and he prefers the “long and skinny” layout the farmers market assumes on Main Avenue.
He said the inclusive, communal feel of the farmers market on Main Avenue makes him feel good.
That’s exactly what the farmers market was going for, Anna Knowles, Durango Farmers Market executive director, said.
“Our slogan this year is ‘We grow community,’ and it feels like we’re living up to it right here, and I’m seeing so many new faces I’ve never seen at the market before,” she said.
The farmers market will return to TBK Bank next weekend, and will be back on Main Avenue on Sept. 13, the second Saturday of September. A Pride parade is also scheduled for Sept. 13, and the parade will lead through the market, Knowles said.
“A part of this pilot is also seeing if we can combine events with the farmers market to bolster foot traffic for everybody,” she said. “Rather than doing all of these separate events throughout town, bring it to Main and reactivate Main.”
She said tourism is down in Durango and around the country, and she’s hopeful Second Saturdays on Main Farmers Market will bring more visitors in Durango to downtown and into downtown shops.
Another positive thing about having the farmers market on Main Avenue is there is enough space to group all agriculture vendors together in a general area.
People don’t always realize how much agriculture is represented at the market, she said, but the farmers market is ag-centric.
With the layout on Main Avenue, when seasoned vendors sell out of produce, newer vendors have a chance make sales and gain new customers. She said it’s harder to organize agriculture vendors in the same space at TBK Bank, simply because the space is smaller and more condensed. Sometimes it’s hard to spot a specific farm stand out from non-agriculture vendors all around it.
Durango Farmers Market and the BID is planning surveys seeking feedback with the intention of adjusting the new style of farmers market so it benefits everyone, she said.
One hundred ten vendors lined the 900, 1000 and 1100 blocks on Saturday. Megan Feuerbacher, stationed at the farmer market’s northern customer service booth, said the market has about 40 vendors on a wait list, hoping for their shot to set up space on a Second Saturday.
Market organizers said they are grateful to TBK Bank for allowing the market to use its parking lot. Feuerbacher said the market appears to be outgrowing the space.
Vendors also appeared to enjoy the new format.
Anatolian Farms co-owner Cassandra Martli said the first Second Saturday was a great experience.
“There’s just so much more liveliness of people coming through and seeing new faces,” she said. “It’s just gonna benefit everybody. People are visiting more businesses on the front side here.”
She said she was “super down” for moving the farmers market to Main Avenue. She grew up around similar street markets and says they are hugely popular.
cburney@durangoherald.com
