The recognition of the benefits of locally grown foods in terms of superior flavor, food safety and availability of heritage vegetable varieties has caused the popularity of Farmers Markets to steadily increase, especially in urban and sub-urban areas. The Leadership Jessamine County, Class of 2017 created the Nicholasville Farmer’s Market and established its governing board. Their main goals were to improve access to healthy foods, support local growers, and generate community-based gathering opportunities.

The 2020 Farmers Market season was an especially difficult time for the vendor of the Nicholasville Farmers Market. The global COVID pandemic, coupled with loss of the market location due to construction of the new Nicholasville Police Department, resulted in a steady decline in participating vendors until there were only two remaining by the end of the season.

During the winter of 2020-21, Tim Vetters, the new Nicholasville Farmers Market President partnered with the Jessamine County ANR Extension Agent to revitalize the market. Five new NFM Board members were recruited who were motivated to see the market expanded and revitalized. A partnership with the Jessamine County Health Department was entered, establishing an agreement allowing the use of the JCHD’s parking lot as a new market location. The market’s website and social media presence was revitalized and expanded, and new market vendors were recruited.

The 2021 Farmers Market season has been a period time of growth in terms of the number and diversity of market vendors and a sharp rise in market shoppers. The Nicholasville Farmers Market now has four vendors selling fresh vegetables and garden plants, a knife sharpening vendor, two vendors selling baked goods, jams and jellies, one vendor selling cut flowers and fresh eggs, and one vendor selling wines, balsamic vinegars, rubs and season blends. The number of Farmers Market shoppers has steadily increased through the season with an average of over 200 visitors on each Saturday morning.