Emporia Farmers Market, a brief history of its origins by Roger Heineken

Timeline:

1982: the market began with one dozen vendors; total sales of $4,789

1982-1984: Market was held in the parking lot at 5th Avenue and Merchant.

1985: Market was held at the Lyon County Fairgrounds

1986: Market moved to current location at parking lot on Merchant between 7th and 8th Avenues.

2002: 60 vendors; total sales of $49,070

2006 = Collective sales of all market vendors totaled $60,215.

2007 = Collective sales of all market vendors totaled $56,629.

2008 = Collective sales of all market vendors totaled $75,860.

2009 = Collective sales of all market vendors totaled $87,948.

The Market added indoor winter markets, November 2010 through April 2011, thanks to a generous gift from the Emil Babinger Charitable Trust. Markets took place once per month at 701 Commercial.

2010 = Collective sales of all market vendors totaled $90,064.

The second season if indoor winter markets began in November 2011, held twice per month. Markets started at the 701 Commercial location, then moved to the Emporia Humanitarian Center for the second market in December 2011, where they remained until the end of the season.

2011 = Collective sales of all market vendors totaled $92,940.