SoKY Marketplace Farmers Market Vendors Affected by Recent Changes

BOWLING GREEN, Ky

A wave of recent changes has wreaked havoc for vendors at the SoKY Marketplace Farmers Market. Unpredictable weather and a sudden rescheduling of market days have prompted many vendors to reconsider their participation and patrons to reroute their shopping habits.

Mirroring a Deserted Land

“Well, they switched our market from Saturday to Thursday, and the people are not here,” asserts Dwight Ray, co-owner of Ray Farm and 8-year veteran of vending at the market. “A lot of the vendors have quit over it; they say they won’t return until the market is back to Saturdays.”

Transitional Phase

The representative of SoKY Marketplace issued a statement saying, “After careful consideration of both vendor and community needs, SoKY Marketplace is currently in a transitional phase. Beginning June 20th, the Farmers Market will be open Thursdays from 3-7 p.m., with enhanced vendor shopping as well as free experiences, workshops, and activities for both children and adults. We appreciate the patience of the community and our cherished vendors as we adapt to fluctuations in the market.”

Weather and Sales – A Dual Hit

For farmers like Ray, the rollercoaster of recent weather has hampered productivity, leading to late harvests and dwindling sales. However, shifting from Saturday to Thursday has further exacerbated the situation. Formerly, Thursday markets operated from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; now, they are limited to 4 hours, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. A primary reason behind this change, as cited by market staff, is parking restrictions and traffic concerns coinciding with Saturday’s Circus Square Park events.

Vendors Resort to Alternate Spaces

Ray highlighted a noticeable shrink in sales, commenting, “I’d guess we’ve probably lost ¾ of our sales. I quit for two weeks, I didn’t come for two weeks myself, and I decided I’d come on back because I had stuff coming in quite a bit, and if I could sell some of it, I’d be alright.”

Despite the reluctance and inconvenience among vendors and shoppers, the SoKY Marketplace Farmers Market is now operating on Thursday evenings from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.