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LANDER VALLEY
Farmers Market
By Kati Hime
Images courtesy of Lander Valley Farmers Market
T
he Lander Valley Farmers Market (LVFM)
celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2018, along
with a surge of exponential growth in both
vendors and shoppers. Local and regionally sourced
goods offer a wide variety, from jams, preserves and
local fruit to sauerkraut, meats, raw milk from cows
and goats, cut fl owers – and much, much more! Local
artisans bring their handcrafted wares to the market,
and musicians complete the atmosphere from time to
time. It’s a great place to greet your neighbors, enjoy the
fresh air and support your local economy.
The market has seen remarkable growth in the past
three years, coinciding with their move to Lander’s
City Park. The summer market has been so successful
that it has turned it into a year-round event. From
mid-October to June, the market moves indoors. “The
reason we have seen so much growth is because of the
Food Freedom Act,” the committee says. “It has really
allowed for innovation and entrepreneurship related to
agricultural products that is unique to Wyoming.” The
Wyoming Food Freedom Act, established in 2015 and
expanded in 2017, allows for the sale of unregulated
foods from producers directly to consumers in
Wyoming. It has been viewed by many as a win for food
freedom of choice, allowing Wyoming’s numerous farms
and ranches greater production potential.
The market has truly become a win-win for the public
and the vendors, and the growth is astounding. In
2014, the market hosted 20 unique vendors and
approximately 150 customers per market. In 2016, the
number of unique vendors throughout the summer
jumped to 66 with an average of 350 customers per
market. In 2017, the market swelled to 101 unique
vendors throughout the summer, and an average of 420
customers per market.
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Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Summer 2018