Field Notes: Gibson County Farm Markets

Our Value Chain Professionals travel hundreds of miles across their regions each month with the sole purpose of learning, connecting, and collaborating. It is through these miles traveled that we discover opportunity. FARMWISE Indiana Value Chain Professional Laura Stoltz shares an opportunity she recently discovered in her region.

Field Notes: Laura Stoltz

Gibson County is home to a 12-farmstand Farmer’s Market Trail. Upon visiting the website, patrons can find the names, addresses, products, and hours of operation.

What a gem this is for the local food scene in Gibson County! Most stands contain signage directing folks to the website as well – and I realized how much cross-promoting between producers really speaks to the sense of community in this county.

I set out to visit each site. On a windy, chilly day in February, visiting these stands only further spurred my excitement for the bountiful vegetable growing season in the not-so-distant future. While prepared foods, meats, eggs and other winter products were available, I couldn’t help but dream of the colorful produce that will be available to residents during growing season.

As a Value Chain Professional, I was brainstorming ways to catalyze the existing connection between farmers and eaters in this community. Is this an opportunity for institutional buyers to access the volumes of local food they need? Is there any current distribution or aggregation that allow these farmers to access additional wholesale markets?

These are questions that will inform much of the work I do in not only Gibson County- but in my region in southwest Indiana.

Contributed by FARMWISE Indiana Value Chain Professional Laura Stoltz