A main cornerstone of Shawano’s summertime activity is the farmers market put on by the FRESH Project, and the Shawano Park and Recreation Commission discovered Feb. 18 that it is really attracting people to come out Saturday mornings.
The FRESH Project has been in the Shawano area since 2017, according to executive director Dave Mendoza, and the nonprofit organization took over the farmers market in 2020. Mendoza told the commission there are 43 vendors on average during the 17 Saturdays from June through October it operates at Franklin Park, and each Saturday usually sees 2,000-2,300 people walking through to check out the various food and other items for sale.
“I don’t usually count the kids,” Mendoza said. “I just count the adults that have the buying power.”
He added that the weekends coinciding with Shawano Fest and Oktoberfest see the visitor numbers grow, with 3,000-4,000 people attending the farmers market.
“We have had other focuses, trying to bridge food resources in the community with people who are food insecure,” Mendoza said. “The main focus the FRESH Project has with Franklin Park is the farmers market every summer.”
Mendoza said the FRESH Project has a good relationship with the city and is usually able to reach someone to address any issues at the park or the nearby Naberhood Plaza. The new restroom facility has helped when it comes to both customers and vendors, he said.
“Some of these farmers come from the Weston and Wausau area,” Mendoza said. “I have no idea what time they leave their house, but I know they’re here at 6 o’clock in the morning, so having those restrooms available … just having that facility open has been a big help.”
More farmers are utilizing electrical outlets at the park, according to Mendoza, and having those available enables the market to attract bigger and more diverse vendors.
“We’re trying to expand. We’re trying to get all the way around the circumference of the park,” Mendoza said.
The farmers market tries to keep things interesting with different activities each week, whether it’s having yoga instructors, musical entertainment or some other activities that children and adults can partake in.
“They’re not usually name brand, big stars that you would see at Shawano Fest,” Mendoza said about the entertainment. “They’re people that just play for free. We don’t pay them anything. They just volunteer. They usually want to practice and try some new material out, things like that.”
A big event for the market is an event called Make One, Take One, where jewelers work with community members to make earrings and other decorative things.
“They provide everything from the beads to the wiring,” Mendoza said. “They’ll teach you how to make your own earrings. It’s free, but they put out a little tip jar and whatever money they’re able to raise usually goes to an animal rescue center.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
