Our Impact Over the 2022/2023 Market Season
Since 2008, the Indy Winter Farmers Market, founded by Growing Places Indy, has provided a venue for Indiana’s sustainably-minded family farms, food producers, and artisans to sell their products throughout the fall and winter. The market provides economic opportunities to local farmers and vendors, extending their selling season through the winter while providing fresh, local food to the community.
The Indy Winter Farmers Market is the longest-running and only winter market in downtown Indianapolis that connects farmers to community members. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the community, local farmers, and food producers.
This season by the numbers
$9,257 SNAP redeemed at the market
〰️
64 locally-owned vendors
〰️
2,000+ engaged community members
〰️
22% BIPOC vendors
〰️
24,000+ total visits during the market season
〰️
$9,257 SNAP redeemed at the market 〰️ 64 locally-owned vendors 〰️ 2,000+ engaged community members 〰️ 22% BIPOC vendors 〰️ 24,000+ total visits during the market season 〰️
Our impact through the Triple-Match SNAP Program
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of households receiving SNAP, otherwise known as food stamps, has increased for families and individuals experiencing falling incomes and rising food needs. Our Triple-Match SNAP program allows us to turn $20 into $60 for SNAP recipients, increasing shoppers’ spending power using SNAP benefits during the market season.
This season, our Triple-Match SNAP program dramatically increased the amount our community was able to spend on fresh, locally grown produce.
$9,257
in SNAP redeemed
+
$6,672
Market Match*
+
$6,672
Fresh Bucks Match**
=
$22,601
Spent on local food
*Recipients are able to redeem as much as they want, but we only match up to $20 for each individual/family per week.
**Fresh Bucks will only match up to $20 for each individual/family per week.
Our impact on small, local businesses in Indianapolis
Farmers’ markets are often the starting point for new entrepreneurs to test their products with potential local customers. During the 2022/2023 season, we hosted 64 local vendors including local produce farmers and food producers, selling sustainably raised meats, dairy products, cheese, baked goods, honey, maple syrup, and so much more.
Farmers’ markets have long served to increase food access in low-income areas and support small farmers and local businesses while bolstering a healthy, locally empowering economy. According to the Farmers’ Market Coalition, for every $100 spent at a farmers’ market, up to 45% stays in the local economy; only 15% of revenue stays local when shopping from large chain stores.
Farmers’ markets have become a critical ingredient to our nation’s economy, food systems, and communities. Connecting rural to urban, farmer to consumer, and fresh ingredients to our diets, farmers’ markets are becoming economic and community centerpieces in cities and towns across the U.S.
Thank you to our sponsors and partners
Citizens Energy Group, Eskenazi Health, Fresh Bucks, and IndyGo made the farmers market possible with their generous contributions, specifically to our Triple-Match SNAP program. Their support increased the spending power of our market shoppers creating a healthier community.
We have found a successful partnership with 16 Tech Innovation District and The AMP Marketplace. We have been fortunate to partner with them and host the Indy Winter Farmers Market in their innovative space for the past two seasons. We look forward to hosting it there again next season.
The Indy Winter Farmers Market would not be possible without the generous support of our community. Thank you to all of our sponsors, vendors, and customers for a wonderful season. We’ll see you again in November!
