Small-town farmers markets filling a need

ELY - Pat Burns and his friend, Stan Wiebold, swiftly downed a half-dozen kolaches outside the Ely Public Library.

The two made a fortuitous find in happening upon Ely's indoor farmers market during an April bike ride.

“We'd come back again,” said Burns, 63, of Cedar Rapids.

That's what Ali Alldredge likes to hear.

As co-manager of Ely's farmers market, Alldredge, 34, sees the multifaceted benefits of the town's indoor and summer markets.

“This farmers market is filling a niche in the community,” she said, citing it as a source of local foods and a place for residents to socialize.

It can also be a draw for people like Burns and Wiebold, who normally might bypass the town of 1,776 people.

Jason Grimm, food system planner for Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development, said many smaller towns have started farmers markets to fill a void for local food.

Click here to view a map and list of 56 farmers markets in Eastern Iowa

Ely, for example, has no grocery store.

“I don't see any failing,” he said. “There's more and more starting.”

That's a national trend, as well.

Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture began tracking farmers markets in 1994, the numbers listed in its national directory skyrocketed from 1,755 to 6,132. The newest directory will be available in mid-July.

Kathy Tandy, 59, and others in the Johnson County town of Oxford decided to jump on board last summer.

“We thought Oxford could benefit from it,” she said.

At least 10 vendors came to last summer's weekly markets, selling baked goods, produce, handcrafted items like Tandy's purses and more.

Live entertainment and food prepared on-site are other attractions.

Visitors who want to stay can see what the town of 807 has to offer in its bars and restaurant.

Oxford has one of Iowa's many seasonal markets that open this week.

Grimm noted that more small towns in Iowa are finding success with year-round markets. Those include Ely, Springville, Mount Vernon and Urbana.

Bob Ballantyne, president of the Economic Development Group of Ely, or EDGE, Ely's partner for the market, said the market is one of the quality of life amenities offered in the community.

The market also is one of the ways the EDGE is working to help area farmers and Ely's commercial and business tax base, Ballantyne said.

“We were interested in seeing what we could do to revive retail out here,” he said.

Grimm, who coordinates the Iowa Corridor Food and Agriculture Coalition, said the markets can serve as an incubator for small businesses.

Some get their start by developing a following at farmers markets, he said.

Kellie Sauser, 38, of Cedar Rapids, sells colorful hair bands, barrettes and other accessories at Ely's market and others as part of her small business, Kathleen Rose Designs.

“We get a lot of repeat customers and a lot of new ones, too,” she said, citing customers that come from Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

Ely started its indoor market last year, making locally crafted products, produce and baked goods from people like Theresa Grieder of Ely easier to find year-round.

Grieder, 47, and her husband, Jim, 60, sell fresh produce in-season in addition to Theresa's homemade breads, pies, jellies and kolaches, a Czech pastry.

“I work full time,” said Grieder, a nurse at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. “I can do this part time and supply the locals.”