Farmers Set Up Markets in Malls

You might not expect to find them there, but farmers are increasingly setting up their stalls at markets located in malls. General Growth Properties, which operates malls across the country, has farmers markets in 18 separate locations, according to the Arizona Daily Star. One market located at a mall in Northridge, Cal., regularly draws crowds of up to 5,000 people since opening 10 years ago.

One of the newest markets at Park Place in Tucson opened for the first time this week and the crowd was sparse with vendors outnumbering customers. Vendors were not concerned, expecting that shoppers will increase over time.
Jack Lemons, of Super Natural Organics, was among those selling goods at Park Place. "I'm excited about this one. There's a certain clientele that frequents farmers markets, but having it at the mall will expose us to a much larger segment of the population," he told the Daily Star.
Jeanette Gulledge, who manages events for General Growth, said, "Farmers market organizers came to us and said, 'Can we set up farmers markets at your mall?' It was a perfect match: parking, restrooms, and typically at times of day when we're not busiest."

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