About the Lawrence Farmers’ Market
Our Story
Established in 1976, the Lawrence Farmers’ Market prides itself on the quality of our vendors and the products they sell at market. The LFM is a producer-only market which means all of the products available were grown, raised, made, and crafted by the individual in the booth. This encourages connection between consumer and producer, allowing the customer to feel comfortable asking how an item was made or grown knowing they will receive a knowledgeable answer. All of our vendors are located within 50 miles of Lawrence; shopping at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market reduces the carbon footprint of food production and supports the local economy.
Our Mission
The mission of the Lawrence Farmers Market is to provide children and adults in the Lawrence, KS area, with locally grown foods and farm products. This will be accomplished by improving access to local, healthy, affordable food through a direct farm-to-consumer marketing venue that will serve diverse populations, including those of low income.
Other goals that the Lawrence Farmers Market strives to achieve are increased education and support of Lawrence-area agriculture. The Lawrence Farmers Market believes that small, local farms are essential to the local economy and is committed to making economic and educational connections between Lawrence-area residents and local farmers.
Our Vendors
LFM is a producer-based market. A vendor must directly produce the majority of items offered on land the vendor owns or leases. A vendor may not purchase from wholesalers to resell at the Lawrence Farmers Market. All products must be grown or produced in Kansas, within 50 miles of Lawrence (the Board of Directors may, based on need, make exceptions to within 75 miles through a process of review and majority vote of the board).
Our Board of Directors
A Board of Directors manages the market under the LFM Bylaws. The Board is comprised of 6 Vendors, up to 5 Community representatives (elected by the market members), and 2 staff members (the Market Manager and Director of Development) as ex-officio (non-voting) members. Board members serve for 3 year periods and Vendor Members elect Directors at the Fall Annual Meeting any whose term of office has expired.
New Vendor Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed at the monthly Board meetings.
Monthly Board Meetings are on the first Monday of every month from 6:30-8:30pm, currently on Zoom, and open to the public. Please send an email to our Market Manager at lawrencefarmersmarket@gmail.com if you would like to attend a meeting.
Sarah Salzman, Chair
Vendor Member, Wild Alive Ferments
1st Term – Fall ‘21
Phil Holman-Hebert, Vice Chair
Vendor Member, Sweetlove Farm
1st Term – Fall ’21 (finishing past Director term)
Jill Elmers, Treasurer
Vendor Member, Moon on the Meadow Farm
2nd Term – Fall ’22
Lori Trojan
Vendor Member, Wild Ivy Herb Farm
1st Term – Fall ’21 (Finishing past Director term)
Open Seat
Community Member
Open Seat
Community Member
Our Staff
The Market Manager is responsible for on-site logistics at the farmers market. They are responsible for collecting stall fees, temporarily assigning the market day's floaters to stalls, managing vehicular traffic and parking, facilitating entertainers and community booths, and the on-site arbiter of any problems or disputes at-market. They are the liaison between the Board and the vendors and are responsible for all communications among and to the vendors. Want to become a vendor, play at market, or have your organization have a booth? Reach out to the Market Manager!
The Director of Development creates and executes a marketing plan for the season, facilitates and executes at-market programming, manages volunteers, and executes outreach in the community. They raise funds, find community sponsorships, and write grants for projects and at-market functions. The Director of Development leads the Long-Term Planning Committee, tasked with securing a new permanent location for the farmers market and acts as liaison between the Board and the community. Want to receive the customer newsletter, volunteer with the market, sponsor an activity, event, or project, become a regular donor, or be involved in the long-term visioning of the market? Reach out to the Director of Development!
