There's something about East Valley Tribune Staff Reporter Jason Stone's story that really 'bugs' your MesaZona blogger. Here's the simple story line: The City of Mesa has wanted to revive a downtown farmers market for years. The owners of a successful downtown sandwich shop have wanted to create one . . . OK. Other Arizona cities [close-by Gilbert for example]have made their Farmers Markets success-stories. The City of Mesa never got it right . . . and they think that partnering-up with two owners of a casual sandwich can?
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It's "a unique blend" for sure and it is funny:HEY! HEY! Just a serendipitous moment. NOT
"They’re all hoping that serendipitous moment is the beginning of a successful, long-running weekly community event".
Who's the "They" ? Whomever the they might be, they're throwing elements of anything usually included in street fairs. Farmers Markets are Green Markets for agricultural products: grains, freshly-harvested vegetables and fruits, fibers, nuts and oils, herbs-and-spices, chicken and duck eggs, dairy products like fresh milk, yogurt and cheeses, meats and poultry and farm-raised fish or products locally-grown or processed: honey, baked goods, salsas and condiments - all of which are perishable. Health-and-nutrition and wellness and well-being.
Local artisans and hand-crafters who use locally-originated materials are showcased: gems and minerals and fossils and petrified woods, metal workers, weavers, furniture, pottery and ceramics, blankets and bowls, embroidery and stitchery, hand-crafted metals.
Flea markets are for "collectibles" and a mish-mash of stuff.
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According to Jason Stone's article on 17 January 2019
Farmers market to fill big downtown Mesa void
Jeff Robbins, a Mesa management assistant in the City Manager’s office, said the creation of a farmers’ market to rival those in nearby communities was among the top responses out of 10,000 they received in a 90-day online social media campaign last year for citizen engagement named Imagine Mesa. Actually it started way before that and it had nothing to do to rival farmers markets in nearby communities:
“We really took that [online survey] and ran with that,” Robbins said. It's Mesa's latest attempt at establishing a farmers' market presence. . . "I'm not quite sure why they stopped operating, but it's been a little while," Robbins said. ? HUH? HUH?
If Robbins did his research he would have found out.
The reasons why:
If Robbins did his research he would have found out.
The reasons why:
1. Hardly anyone shops for farm-produced goods in downtown Mesa.
Downtown Mesa is considered a "Food Desert" by many, with a few small neighborhood markets the exceptions. Supermarkets in shopping centers have taken over.
Downtown Mesa is considered a "Food Desert" by many, with a few small neighborhood markets the exceptions. Supermarkets in shopping centers have taken over.
2. Residents in downtown Mesa were not attracted to either the locations chosen or the quality of the products presented by vendors or the day chosen - Friday.
3. Complaints about high prices
4. Vendors stopped showing up due to lack of sales and low customer turn-out.
Robbins said “We did a lot of research in the market – what works, what drives traffic,” Robbins said. “We wanted to create an event with multiple activities."
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People can go and have an experience at a farmers’ market.”
OK....but do the people mentioned really have the experience to pull this off?
"The city felt strongly that they wanted to have a farmers’ market presence. So, it put out a request for proposals since that was something we were already passionate about.”
OK. Many people for many years have wanted any kind of a market downtown for years - - years way before that "Imagine Mesa" campaign.
Three years ago an on-site tour here in Downtown Mesa by the President of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank John Williams [he's now the President of the New York Federal Reserve], noted that there is a lack of a fresh food market downtown that's open 7 days a week.
The mayor and his chief-of-staff were somewhere in the 24-member group .
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Back to Jason Stones article
"That passion extends to the Strotherses, two Evergreen District residents who own Worth Takeaway at 218 W. Main St. They have turned the sandwich shop, which is about a mile from Pioneer Park, into a huge success in less than three years. . .
OK. . . Is making sandwiches a successful small-time business in some way a qualifier to develop a farmers market where one person has a degree in "dietetics"??
The Strotherses’ plan was exactly what the city was looking to establish. . ."
Robbins said.
So what does the city do? Turn to two sandwich-shop owners: Kelsey and Jim Bob Strothers - to scale-up their small casual made-to-order sandwich success at 118 W Main Street into a one-day weekly seasonal Pop-Up event Mesa Farmers Market & Flea in Pioneer Park on 526 East Main Street opposite the Mesa LDS Temple that is closed for a 2-year renovation. “Essentially, it’s a business for us,” Kelsey said. “We personally felt passionately about operating it as a business and operating it from the standpoint we thought would be the most successful.”
O yeah [see the sign] LET'S GET THIS BREAD
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The Strotherses originally said it was all a dream and they wanted to give back to the close-knit downtown community by opening up a market designed for families who weren’t only interested in buying fresh foods but also wanted a place to gather. “Our goal was to create some fun culture in the area and provide another option for entertainment and dining,”
OK. How:
The organizers’ private LLC is paying for the majority of the cost to put on the market.
(See that sign on the wall in the image above right: LET'S GET THIS BREAD)
No mention of who - the organizers - are. Just "a private LLC" Limited Liability Corporation created to partner with the city supposedly to stage a weekly seasonal one-day a week event in a public park for which they will rent for $100 per day.
The city's newsroom had this to say as part of a public relations push after city approval of the RFP in October 2018. Different reasons are stated to start off the presser.Starting January 19, Pioneer Park will host the new Mesa Farmers Market and Flea on Saturdays. The market is designed to help Arizona small businesses flourish by providing a fun and inviting sales environment and to make fresh, healthy options...
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". . . Mesa Farmers Market and Flea was developed by downtown Mesa business owners Kelsey and Jim Bob Strothers, from Worth Takeaway, which was named the 2018 Best Sandwich Shop by the Phoenix New Times.
"We are excited to bring Mesa Farmers Market and Flea to Pioneer Park," Kelsey Strothers said. "There will be a unique blend of local farmers, food vendors, artists, home goods, apparel and other makers participating each week."
Signed, sealed and delivered
They're all hoping.
Good luck!
