Written by Tiffany Tomeo, Fort Thomas Farmers Market’s market manager
Everyone wants food of the highest caliber, particularly when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables. Searching for the ripest corn ear, the freshest apple, or the juiciest peach on a table has a universal appeal. At our Fort Thomas Farmers Market in Tower Park, over 700 patrons participate in that custom every week in Kentucky.Although eating is important, I’ve discovered that what really matters is the human connection.
This National Harvest Month, I m reflecting not only on my own journey, but on the farmers, volunteers, and makers who, each week, open their booths and hearts to define what farm fresh means. And how tapping into the support of the community is the essential piece to keep this tradition alive.
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My goal as our farmers market’s market manager is to bring local farmers and the community together.Our award-winning market has grown into a midweek destination for locally sourced, fresh goods since 2009. We’ve been proud to preserve a vibrant, small-town atmosphere despite being close to a major metro area.
It’s normal to want to share something you’re enthusiastic about. I will continue to encourage people to take advantage of everything that the Fort Thomas Farmers Market has to offer. These days, we can’t rely just on signs placed throughout the town to advertise our area. We need to meet people online, where they are.
Social media sites like Facebook and Instagram are now vital resources for sharing upcoming events, letting people know what’s in season, and teaching our community the value of making local investments. We have a fantastic community that supports us as we open our booths every Wednesday, thanks to our digital following. Our social media posts tell the makers’ true stories and go beyond beautiful produce.
Every booth has a heartbeat, and it’s been incredible to watch how a Facebook film of a farmer cultivating sunflowers can make our 7,000 followers’ days, or how tagging a buddy in a remark has resulted in a delightful Wednesday afternoon for the two of them. Through Facebook posts, we can now share our 30 varied vendors with clients in real time, building a relationship with the very people who plowed the ground, sowed the seeds, and baked the goods they take home. Every farmer has a different tale, yet they all rely on their community. And we’re determined to use the online resources at our disposal to preserve the farmers market legacy.
We have discovered that people still yearn for genuine connections, even in the digital age, and that the best place to start is with fresh food. In order to engage even more Kentuckians in the wonderful community that our farmers markets foster, I urge our neighboring markets to put their faces out there on digital channels as harvest draws near. Making a Facebook or Instagram page is simple and could be the key to establishing a connection with your neighborhood.
To me, it s not just about food labels; it s about faces. It s about relationships. And it s about celebrating the people who make our community stronger, one market day at a time. This National Harvest Month, my message is simple:
support local, connect deeply, and celebrate the story behind your food.
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