Public Markets Conference - April 24

I'm in San Francisco this weekend for the Project for Public Spaces' conference on Public Markets. This year, the conference is a three day event with speakers, panels, workshops and tours.

The conference started today with several short welcome addresses (including one by the freshly-appointed deputy secretary of agriculture Kathleen A. Merrigan). We then had a panel of international public market experts speak about current needs and trends of produce and craft markets. Shortly following the panel, we had a few moments to speak amongst our table on our thoughts on the roles and responsibilities of public markets. Our table talked about a number of things, but the three main themes were: 1) Public markets help a city discover its authenticity; 2) Public markets provide necessary food to a local community; and 3) Public markets are an economic driver for other retailers and commercial enterprises in the area.

Three workshops followed speaking to the 'logistics' of markets, how to advertise them effectively, how to integrate them into a community, and how to complement produce markets with local, handcrafted goods.

So far the conference has been enjoyable and enlightening. I'm very excited about the potential for getting a viable market started in Denver at or near Union Station!

Tomorrow, I'll be touring four of the most successful markets in the Bay Area and I'll post some pictures, so be sure to check back later this weekend! In the meantime, enjoy these pictures of our welcome reception at the Ferry Building earlier this evening.