Red Wing Farmers Market: Produce for the People

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service indicates there were more than 8,700 U.S. farmers’ markets in 2022, with total annual sales estimated at $1 billion. That’s no small potatoes! 

These increasingly popular events to access healthy foods are also economic drivers for a community. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service indicates that American farmers receive only 14.3 cents of every dollar spent on food, while they take upwards of 90 cents on the dollar from farmers’ markets. And growers selling at local outlets create thirteen full-time farm operator jobs per $1 million in revenue earned, compared to only three for those not selling locally.

The Red Wing Farmers Market is four separate farmers markets, allowing area residents to find fresh-grown produce year-round. As important, the markets give growers and creators the means to reach customers.

“Our farmers’ markets are a fun place for all ages,” said Red Wing Farmers Market Manager Sara George. “Farming is hard and farmers need all the support they can get, but it's also a great way to ensure everyone in the community has food affordability, availability and accessibility.” 

Red Wing has a series of farmers’ markets nearly year-round. Visitors can find more information on which vendors will be at the market here. 

Saturday Market

• Levee Road in front of the train depot
• Saturdays, June to October 
• Open Air​ (8 am-1 pm) and ​Pre-order Pick Up (10 am-11 am)

Weekday Market​

• Outside City Hall on West 4th Street
• Monday through Friday; May to October
• 8 am until sold out

Winter Market

• Location TBD
• Saturdays, November to December

Online Market

• Red Wing is one of 10 Farmers Market Hubs across the state involved in an online market, where consumers can buy online and do a drive-thru pick up or have the order delivered to your doorstep for $5 within a specific delivery area.  

Local support

Laura McCurdy and her husband are first-generation farmers, starting McCurdy Farms three years ago with their two sons. Collectively, they had zero farming experience but knew they wanted to help their neighbors and produce good foods and good soils. The Red Wing Farmers Market has given them that opportunity, where she brings eggs, seedling plants, chickens, cut flowers and, for the first time recently, beef. The local community is eager to support local farmers, with regular customers and visitors loving to talk about the farm and their products. McCurdy said the business support aspect of the market is a real treasure.

“I try to bring something different every other week to see if customers like it or the price is fair because while I want to make this a sustainable living, I also want customers to have good food that they enjoy,” she said. “The market has helped us grow our customer list and we do things like a winter egg delivery to keep it going.”

Unique activities

The Red Wing Farmers Market has 55 unique vendors that come at various times throughout the season. The Saturday market is an event beyond the produce, with live music, face painting and more. Red Wing Farmers Market offers tokens to community members by running debit cards, credit cards and food stamps (EBT), working closely with Hunger Solutions MN, which matches the EBT.

The market also focuses on youth education with its Power of Produce program to empower children between the ages of 4-12 to make healthy eating decisions from a young age. Youth receive a free $2 token each time they visit the market to purchase fruits or vegetables. 

For more information on the market’s programs, visit the information booth on Saturday or the website at https://www.redwingfarmersmarket.com/at-the-market. 

Celebrate farmers!

August 6 - 12 is National Farmers Market Week and a good reminder of the importance farmers, growers and creators have on the vitality of the Red Wing Community. You can learn more about the national effort from the Farmers Market Coalition.

The Red Wing Port Authority is here to help you grow your business. Please contact us today to learn more about our assistance programs and networking opportunities.