October 9, 2015
When Kimberly Scott arrived home the evening of Sept. 29, she thought of the workday she had ahead of her. As she waited for her computer screen to lazily come to life, she thought of what she might eat for dinner. However, her thoughts quickly shifted to confusion as she attempted to navigate through the bureaucratically written email at the top of her inbox.
Scott has been the market manager for the Rogers Farmers Market for 14 years, but was informed through this email, sent by Hannah Cicioni, board of director leading the 2016 Farmers Market task force, that her market was about to change.
In so many words, Scott was told that there will be a new farmers market coming to downtown Rogers that will be run by the non-profit organization Main Street Rogers.
“I was completely shocked,” Scott said. “Out of no where I was suddenly being told our last day in Rogers would be Oct. 31.”
However, Cicioni wanted to reiterate that neither she nor Main Street Rogers want to take anything away, but instead make the market better for the city.
This is a decision that has been a long time coming, said Jessica Rush, director of Main Street Rogers. The office of Mayor Greg Hines has been working with the Gateway Consulting Group for the last two years surveying the community about what they thought the city could improve on.
“Wanting a better market was at the top of everyone’s list,” Rush said. “The fact is we have the resources the current market doesn’t, and we can expand and create a better environment for everyone involved.”
The Rogers Farmers Market, open Saturday and Wednesday mornings, has been a staple in the community since it opened in 1985, and Scott has done a wonderful job managing it since 2001, Cicioni said. It is because of Scott and her hard work that Main Street Rogers has the foundation to create a farmers market.
“The bottom line is, we don’t want to take anything away from anyone,” Cicioni said. “This isn’t personal, we simply want to make it better for the vendors, the city and the customers. We’re very excited about this new opportunity.”
Main Street Rogers would like to continue working with the vendors and vendor applications for the 2016 market will be released soon, Rush said. The new market is looking to give patrons a larger selection, bring in more vendors and offer the best possible amenities for everyone.
Some vendors are saddened by the management change, as is to be expected anytime there’s an adjustment in a business, Rush said. Though several vendors are excited by the prospect of new customers and opportunities.
“I think it’s gonna be really good actually,” said vendor Carol Roper. “I think it could bring in new customers and new vendors.”
Farmer John Obenshain said he’s lost customers in the past due to location changes, but Cicioni said she thinks the board can abate fears like this once the vendors have a chance to sit down and look at all of the new opportunities Main Street Rogers can provide.
A few of these opportunities include educational seminars and classes explaining the basic rules of advertising and vendors can increase their audiences, state laws for owning your own business, tips on how to create a brand, etc.
The new market will be located at the corner of 1st and Walnut streets and opens in April 2016. The hours will be Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. Rush said. Main Street Rogers wants to offer this new evening option so that as people drive home from work, they have the opportunity to get fresh food for dinner while still supporting the local farmers.
The idea for a new market is something Main Street Rogers had been considering internally for a few years before the board of directors approached the city council for approval, Cicioni said.
“We actually went to Scott and her board a couple years ago and asked how we could help,” Cicioni said. “It was not the original plan to completely take over the market, but it’s what the city needs.”
There are 90 paid vendors contracted with the current market, but in recent months, less than 20 percent of vendors have been showing up, Cicioni said. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, only eight vendors showed up to market.
“That’s the kind of stuff we want to change,” Cicioni said. “Market managers are honestly advocates for the vendors and what’s best for them is what’s best for us.”
Despite their efforts to reach out to Scott, Cicioni and the board of directors have been unsuccessful. Main Street Rogers would love to work with Scott to develop this new market, but for now Scott maintains that she will be continuing her market with her vendors in a new location, according to the Rogers Farmers Market Facebook page.
“We will go on, they can’t take our name, we will find a new place,” Scott said. “We will survive this.”
Cicioni said she sympathizes with Scott and regrets that this has put a strain on her relationship with the community, but it’s ultimately what needed to be done. Main Street Rogers has been and will continue to research and poll both regional and national successful farmers markets on how they thrive so they can make sure the Northwest Arkansas farming community continues to grow and prosper in the future.
“I grew up in this town, this is an issue that’s personal to me as well,” Cicioni said. “I know it’s a hard process to go through, but I know people are gonna be really happy when all is said and done.”