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Shopping Local at the Ranch

By / Photography By | February 08, 2021
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The Market offers open-air fun and freshness

Live music, artisan wares, and indulgent eats draw thousands of shoppers to The Market at Lakewood Ranch every Sunday for locally focused fun.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., crowds stroll and browse on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard for the gatherings (which started as seasonal events in 2017 but became year-round in 2021). With more than 50 vendors on-site, The Market’s selection is eclectic—featuring organic produce, seafood, eggs, freshly baked breads, sweet treats, cold brew coffee, meat, poultry, pet snacks, jewelry, pasta, and juices.

“The vendors are ‘The Market,’ and we do all we can to help support them to help drive traffic and grow their sales,” says Monaca Onstad, director of community relations for Lakewood Ranch Communities. “Another unique aspect of The Market is that we accept vendor applicants who have just begun their journey, as we take great pride in helping entrepreneurs get their first start.”

One of those vendors was Rock N Eggroll, which joined The Market last year.

“They had a tasty product but no real experience selling at farmers’ markets,” Onstad says. “We took a chance on them, and now they are a favorite among our shoppers.”

While the 2019—20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Market reopened on November 1, 2020, and it has since been an open-air, family-friendly option.

“Our community has responded with such love for The Market and our vendors. On opening day, we safely welcomed more than 3,000 people,” Onstad says. “We appreciate every single shopper and are so thankful for their support. We offer a fresh take on the farmers’ market layout by giving shoppers ample space to stroll, shop, and dine.”

What else makes The Market unique? Organizers offer a loyalty program with punch cards: Once a shopper receives 15 punches (one punch per vendor purchase), the card is redeemable at the welcome tent. Customers can snag seasonal Market-specific and Lakewood Ranch merchandise (among the most popular items are the cutting boards). Also, post-pandemic, there will be chef demos and free yoga sessions on the schedule. And in mid-2021 The Market plans to relocate to a permanent home at Waterside Place (Lakewood Ranch’s newest town center).

“Attendance has increased drastically over year one of The Market,” Onstad says. “Farmers’ Market Coalition research states ‘Growers selling locally create 13 full-time jobs per $1 million in revenue earned. Those that do not sell locally create three.’ We take pride in the fact that we are impacting our economy one Sunday at a time.”

The Market at Lakewood Ranch: 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Lakewood Ranch; 941-556-8300; themarketlwr.com

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