Candace Gonsalves: Farmers market helped us start our business
My husband and I had only occasionally participated in out-of-area craft fairs until we set up our first “shop” at the Turlock Certified Farmers Market. The TCFM offered an affordable way to establish us and our product in the community. Through TCFM, a large local business saw our product and we landed our first wholesale account. That was huge, turning our hobby into a full-time business. Finally we opened our own store, Farm House.
TCFM started its Saturday market two weeks after we opened the doors to Farm House. We aligned our hours to TCFM’s and every market morning our store filled with smiling faces and families. The TCFM was crucial to our first year of business.
As we come up on Farm House’s one-year anniversary, I worry about a negative impact if TCFM is no longer leading the market. Why should we jeopardize something that is working, something our community looks forward to every week and something that helps drive downtown commerce?
The more shops, restaurants, events, etc. the more downtown becomes a destination. Replacing TCFM with another organization is not encouraging competition, it’s eliminating something our community needs, loves and supports. Why not add another event downtown to drive commerce on a different day?
Candace Gonsalves, Ceres
This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 2:08 PM with the headline "Candace Gonsalves: Farmers market helped us start our business."