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Project History and Summary
Since 2003, the Midtown Farmers’ Market (MFM) has connected locally produced food and goods with 40,000 customers per season at 2225 East Lake Street on a surface parking lot owned by Minneapolis Public Schools. The MFM was conceived by local residents and is operated by the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization (CNO). The MFM currently operates one day a week from May to June, and two days a week from June through October.
 The Midtown Farmers’ Market is one of 5,000 urban farmers markets currently operating in city neighborhoods and towns across the country. Farmers markets function as a vital economic and social link between urban families and the farmers and craftspeople of the surrounding agricultural region. Accordingly, the MFM was a keystone element of the Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan (Plan), which calls for a mix of housing, retail/office, structured/underground parking, and public open space. This citizen generated Plan was adopted by the City Council as part of the Minneapolis Plan in 2002.
Given development pressures and the pending sale of the 6-1/2 acre site by the school district, residents look forward to the opportunity to realize the Plan and create a permanent home for the Midtown Farmers' Market at 2225 East Lake on a public square, plaza, or mall shared within a larger mixed-use, transit oriented development adjacent to the Lake Street LRT station, with nearby connections to the Midtown Greenway bikeway, bus transit, and a proposed Midtown Greenway trolley line. To remain successful, the MFM needs a permanent, no-cost lease agreement and assurance of uninterrupted operation during construction.
Resources for advocates, designers, and public officials
- Project Program Brief PDF file
- CURA report June 2009: Envisioning a Permanent Home for the Midtown Farmers' Market PDF file
- 2009 MN Senate Bonding tour package PDF file
- Map of vendors by MN Senate district PDF file
- Map of vendors by MN House district PDF file
- Map of vendors by MN County PDF file
- 2/5/09 CNO letter to lawmakers PDF file
- Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan link to City of Minneapolis webpage
- Minnehaha-Hiawatha Community Works Strategic Development Framework webpage
- Project for Public Spaces has experts available to assist with design of public spaces, particularly spaces for farmers markets. website
- Farmers Market Coalition provides additional resources related to farmers market design, function, and tangible and intangible community benefits. website
- Larry Lev, faculty at Oregon State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics, provides resources similar to the FMC; has partnered with the MN Institute for Sustainable Agriculture to study Twin Cities farmers markets. contact info
Press
- 9/3/09 StarTribune "Small Potatoes" column by Gail Rosenblum link
- "Redevelopment update," CNO Advocate 6/9/09 link
- "Market deserves to stay," Gary Schiff newsletter 5/11/09 link
- "Contaminated neighborhoods access locally-grown food," CNO Advocate 4/10/09 link
- "Open house builds support," CNO Advocate 3/2/09 link
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