History of the Key Peninsula Farmers Market

The Key Peninsula Farmers Market started as a project of the Livable Key Peninsula 2020 Committee under the Key Peninsula Community Council (KPC). Tara Froode, then a member of the KPC, took over leadership of the Livable Key 2020 group in the fall of 2007 and identified goals and objectives from the Key Peninsula Community Plan that the group could develop for the overall benefit of the KP. In February 2008, the Livable Key 2020 decided to pursue opening a Farmers Market.

By the end of March 2008 there were five volunteers dedicated to getting a Farmers Market operational, with the support of the KP Community Council. From this core of volunteers the Key Peninsula Farmers Market (KPFM) Board of Directors was formed and a volunteer Market Manager identified.

Between the six of them, the KPFM was able to secure a free location for the farmers market, obtain a 1K grant from the Pierce Conservation District , network with local farmers and vendors, get press coverage through the KP News and Gateway, produce and distribute posters, and get a banner made, as well as write the by-laws, market rules & policies and draft applications.

After only four months of planning, the KPFM opened on Sunday, June 22, 2008 with both a great vendor response and a huge amount of support from the community. Throughout the season, as vendors fluxed in and out - Spring was hard on the farmers - the market continued to build a loyal customer base and many saw the market as "the" place to catch up with their friends every weekend. During the 2008 season, 3,300 shoppers came through the market. The KPFM averaged 12 vendors a week, many of whom commented they had higher sales here than at other markets in which they participate.

What makes the KPFM different than many of the regional farmers markets is the focus on Key Peninsula farmers and vendors; the majority of the 2008 participants in the KPFM are local residents! The KPFM Board is pleased to provide our rural farmers a local marketing identity and income, which allows them to flourish, preserves rural farm land, as well as the character of the Key Peninsula community.

Welcome to the Key Peninsula Farmers Market!

Compiled by Tara Froode, KPFM President 2008-2009