Today we’d like to introduce you to Shonna Kirkpatrick.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shonna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After homeschooling my kids, I began cooking really healthy food for intensive and spiritual retreats. In between the retreats I began baking fresh ground wheat bread and bringing it to a local farmer’s market.
Eventually I was baking for 6 markets and doing really well. Six markets were a lot to manage so I increased my product line and only baked for one market, The Rockmart Farmers Market.
As this producer only market grew, I grew with it and began volunteering for the market board. As things would happen I found myself eventually in charge of a uniquely organized non-profit farmers market with an intriguing mission. I successfully applied for a USDA grant for the farmers market and am just now finishing up with the grant. I am currently looking to the future of the Rockmart Farmers Market and how it can continue to grow.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not really, is any road? There are a lot of challenges facing farmers and their markets today and some of those issues are compounded in small rural areas that have often been neglected. Our farmers are aging all across this country and new farmers have a hard time getting established and becoming successful enough to raise families. So, the retiring farmers are leaving farming faster than younger farmers are entering.
At the same time, our customers are changing and new farming techniques are expected but the infrastructure needed to meet those expectations aren’t in place. A prime example of this would be Farm to School. We want our local farmers to provide our school children with fresh locally produced food but we don’t think about who the farmers are in an area or if there are even enough to grow the desired food.
There are also federal pressures that affect farming on the local level that make small farming difficult. The pressures from communities and customers for a healthy local farming system that isn’t in place yet is an interesting challenge.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Rockmart Farmers Market – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Rockmart Farmers Market is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charged with the mission of “improving the health of our community”. This includes our community’s economic health as well as our physical health. There are three aspects to our mission: increasing access to locally produced food, increasing knowledge about food preparation and preservation, and supporting farmers in order to improve the food and farming system in our area.
Over the past few years the local farmers market has seen incredible growth. As a producer only market we ensure local farmers have a successful market to bring their products to. We are also hosting cooking classes and potlucks for the community that focus on different aspects of food preparation and preservation as well as building community. Finally, we also have a program that helps ensure everyone in our community has access to healthy locally produced foods by providing the Georgia Fresh for Less program through Wholesome Wave, Georgia. This program allows us to double food stamps spent at the local market which helps keep money in the community as well as helping farmers and customers.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Rockmart itself is a small, but vibrant, town that puts community first. One very unique aspect of this area is that the average person tends to be less removed from their agricultural roots than a resident of a metropolitan area. Because of this the community has strong agricultural ties, oftentimes stemming from fond childhood memories, that encourages support of our local farmers and market. We are lucky to be located in an area that is sympathetic to the plight of small scale farmers. All communities have their downfalls, and Rockmart’s are no different than hundreds of other small towns across the nation. What makes this community special is our ability and willingness to take responsibility of our own issues and lend a helping hand to people in need.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.RockmartFarmerMarket.com
- Phone: (404) 436-1818
- Email: RockmartFarmersMarket@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/rockmartfarmers
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockmartfarmersmarket
- Twitter: twitter.com/RockmartFarmMkt
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
