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closeMonday, Jul. 06, 2009
Web site, magazine promote Richland Farmers Market
By Joe Chapman, Herald staff writer
RICHLAND -- Richland Farmers Market organizers have launched a new Web site and magazine to promote the market throughout the year.
The two endeavors could make information about farmers market vendors such as Two Sisters Honey and Buggirl's Garden -- their goods and wares as well -- available to patrons throughout the year.
The Web site, www.therichlandparkway.com, already is up and promoting the farmers market, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays from June through October.
The site lists names and addresses of Parkway businesses such as Strandz and Greenies. The vendors list includes links to contact information about vendors such as Hidden Acres Emu Ranch, Dick's Fancy Woods and Ron's Original Kettle Corn.
A calendar of upcoming events promotes the Live at 5 concert series that happens Thursdays in John Dam Plaza and the Art in the Park Show that will be later this month.
The website's architects plan to add a shopping cart that will allow vendors and businesses to conduct business with customers online. The shopping cart would expand the calendar reach of the farmers market, which in its first four years has been a strictly seasonal affair.
"So if people in November think, oh, I wish I would've gotten a hand-carved pen, because I think I want to send that to so-and-so for Christmas, they can go on that website and purchase it from that particular vendor," said Tara Erben, owner of River House and organizer of the Richland Farmers Market.
The first quarterly edition of the farmers market magazine, called The Parkway, was published late last month. Like the website, it promotes businesses and events, and it includes tidbits such as recipes and decorating tips.
About 1,500 copies were printed, some mailed directly to customers of the vendors and businesses and others available for pickup in Parkway shops.
Darin Warnick, owner of Greenies, welcomed the development of the magazine and website, saying businesses can get lost in an advertising sea of mailers and coupon books.
"Anytime you can target in on your customer," he said. "This is just about the Parkway, and I think there's a lot of people interested in sort of a walking, downtown area."
For information about other Tri-Cities farmers markets, go to www.pascofarmersmarket.org or www.kennewickfarmersmarket.com.
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