Cultivating the Farmers Markets of Minneapolis Collaborative

Farmers markets have operated in Minneapolis for more than 100 years. Twenty-nine markets operated in 2018 with about 800 vendors representing a range of ages, cultures, and geography. Markets are independently managed, varying in governance structure, and until recently without coordination. Collaboration among Minneapolis markets was identified as a priority in 2009 and realized in 2017 with the formation of the Farmers Markets of Minneapolis, which engaged market managers, the City of Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, and other partners. The 2008 launch of Homegrown Minneapolis, a citywide initiative, fostered collaborative discussions among market managers. The Minneapolis City Council adopted recommendations for markets in 2009 that included the creation of a formal means for markets to coordinate their activities. This remained a latent opportunity until 2015, when market managers with renewed interest forged a collaboration with new Homegrown Minneapolis staff and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities faculty. City and university staff time helped propel the efforts forward. The collaboration gained momentum from the development of a market metrics project and a collaborative strategic plan and marketing campaign. The metrics project was inspired by the need for data to illustrate community impact. Following a 2016 pilot, the first season of a three-year metrics project was completed in 2017 after surveying 27 markets in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Strategic planning in 2016–2017 identified collaborative goals. The collaborative launched a marketing campaign in 2017 to establish the Farmers Markets of MPLS brand, supported by the City of Minneapolis and the General Mills Foundation. The collaborative is currently implementing priority strategies and evaluating potential long-term governance structures.