The Downtown Laramie Farmer’s Market will kick off the 2015 season tomorrow. This year’s market will feature over 50 vendors with products ranging from local produce and bread, to handmade goods and information about local businesses.
“It’s such a good place for the community to get together, support local companies and enjoy Laramie in the summertime,” Grant Gardner, downtown Laramie resident, said.
The yearly event has grown considerably in size over the past several years.
The market’s manager Lindsay Olson attributes the growth of the event to the increase in popularity of eating local, the surge number of local vendors and people’s desire to eat healthier.
“The fact that Laramie can support two markets—that’s proof that Laramie has an appetite for it,” Olson said.
New to the market for 2015 are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cardholders. The 50 percent match on EBT cards can be used market-wide.
“If you spend $10 on your EBT card, you get $15 of market tokens to spend on fresh food at the market,” Olson said.
One of 2015’s new vendors is Weitzel’s Wings aka Double Dubs. Owner Trent Weitzel serves up chicken wings, chicken fingers and chicken biscuit sandwiches from his food truck.
Weitzel, a Laramie native, catered events for six years before he noted that “it became too overwhelming, so I decided to get a food truck.” Along with the help of family and friends, Weitzel spent the last year remolding a 1978 Alsco box-van, making it kitchen and road ready. Painted military green, the truck has been serving Laramie since May.
Many returning vendors are expected to be present on Friday as well, including: ACRES Student Farm, 105 Degrees West, Eugene’s Teas, Laramie Local Foods, H+S Coffee Roasters, Styria Bakery, Wags Livestock, Inc. and many more.
For Weitzel, the Farmer’s Market is chance for people to support small businesses.
“It’s just shopping local, shopping small, and helping out the little guys,” he said.
This year the market will continue to expand its offerings by providing free live music in the First Street Plaza. Every week different musicians will perform for market-goers. The market will also have select vendors that will provide alcohol during the event.
“It’s fun. It’s a very social atmosphere,” Olson said.
The Downtown Laramie Farmer’s Market will be held on Second and Grand and will be open every Friday from July through September from 3 to 7 p.m. starting on July 3rd.
