Farmers Market Brings Together North Mpls. Community
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For six years, the West Broadway Farmers Market has done much more than supply local produce to people in north Minneapolis.
It's also created a space for small businesses and entrepreneurs to sell their goods.
"When I ride by the garden at 9 o'clock in the morning and they are out there working the land and I know that that produce is going to come to my market, it's just so gratifying," said DeVon Nolen.
West Broadway Farmers Market manager DeVon Nolen is talking about young people from the organization Appetite for Change.
"We use food as a tool for health, wealth and social change in the community and that's what I live by," said Jessie McDaniel.
They spend their evenings planting and harvesting produce, in the heart of north Minneapolis.
"I like doing it because I like eating real food, good food," McDaniel said.
Twenty-three-year-old McDaniel is a youth leader and is excited to see something positive talking hold on the north side.
"We all live over in north Minneapolis, we all want to see healthy food access in north Minneapolis," McDaniel said.
Appetite for Change works with 16 community gardens. Some are run by local residents and non-profit partners.
"Those gardens produce roughly 10,000 pounds of produce a year," said Darryl Lindsey, operations director for Appetite for Change.
These young people are learning what it takes to grow their own food and how eating healthy is key to success in life.
"These greens are going to the farmers market," McDaniel said.
Appetite for Change is one of about 20 vendors that will sell goods at the West Broadway Farmers Market.
The corner of Aldridge and Broadway is where the community not only gathers but sends its young to learn about business.
Interns do lots to help this market grow.
"Including permitting and licensing and all that that happens, but also how to support entrepreneurs," Nolen said.
A growing demand for healthy foods on the north side is also helping change how people think about the people who live here.
"There is money here in north Minneapolis. We have a tremendous amount of spending power and it's about creating opportunities," Nolen said.
The farmer's market runs from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. every Friday during the summer.
The goal is to have a year-round market that would include a plaza in the middle, so during the summer they can hold the market and in the winter months it would be home to a food hub.
