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Farmers Market Management Transferred

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council unanimously transferred management of the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market to Destination Sturgeon Bay (DSB) beginning with this year’s season, which runs every Saturday, June 4 – Oct. 15, 8 am – 12 pm.

“DSB looks forward to increasing communication with the Farmers Market vendors, filling vacant booth spots with daily vendors on a weekly basis, increasing the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market promotional and marketing efforts, and providing a positive impact on a weekly event that is so important for our community,” said Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski, DSB’s executive director.

Transferring the management to the professional marketing and event organization was seen as a good move by all parties, including the market’s regular vendors. What hadn’t been embraced by a number of regular vendors were the plans DSB rolled out a month ago for a change in the location from Market Square to 3rd Avenue. The vendors said at that time they were caught by surprise and confused as to how it would work logistically with vehicles, setup and teardown.

“I think there was a lot of disappointment in the beginning because this started on social media, so I think it put a bad taste in everyone’s mouth,” said Alder Kirsten Reeths. 

Ehlers-Kwaterski agreed that the original plan was “a bit premature,” but she said they’ve made positive steps since then to increase communication with the vendors. 

That included a Feb. 28 Zoom meeting that DSB held with the vendors. About 25 people attended and submitted questions via chat. During that meeting, two location options were presented, though DSB hasn’t decided yet which one would be used. The first location would use only half of Market Square on the Nebraska Street side, then Nebraska Street from 5th to 3rd avenues, and 3rd Avenue from Michigan to Oregon streets.

The second option would use just those streets, not half of Market Square, with the addition of Nebraska from 3rd to 2nd streets as needed for daily vendors. 

Vendors were present at the March 1 council meeting, but none spoke during the public-comment period. 

Although details need to be worked out, DSB told the council it intends to increase the number of vendors, have a staff person at the site from opening to closing every Saturday and form a committee that will include vendor members. DSB may also bring back the acceptance of EBT cards so that SNAP benefits can be used for purchases. Bathrooms and additional resources would also be more accessible in the DSB office, which is open on Saturdays during the Farmers Market hours.

“Maybe they can’t make everyone 100% happy, but they can make positive changes and really make the market a destination place,” said Alder Helen Bacon.

City Administrator Josh VanLieshout said he’s in the process of drafting a license agreement that would be signed in the future between the city and DSB. 

“They can keep going, and we’ll keep going, and it should all come together nicely,” he said.