Ash Grove Farmers Market named best in Missouri

Relocation to Ash Grove City Park helps market gain traction, more growth planned
The Ash Grove Farmers Market was voted the No. 1 farmers market in Missouri in an annual competition hosted by Farmers Market Coalition. This is the 15th year of the competition in which voters submit their choice for the best market in multiple categories, be that at the nationwide or state level. Ash Grove Farmers Market garnered more than 360 individual votes making it number 69 in the nation. The voting kicked off on June 19, and ran until Sept. 18, as part of America’s Farmers Market Celebration.
Jasmin LeBlanc, director of the Ash Grove market, said that a big part of its success was the fact that it’s new, offers community events and has a favorable location in the city’s park.
“We really stepped up to offer things for the community that they wouldn’t normally get,” LeBlanc said.
The “things” that LeBlanc spoke of are the various community events that have been hosted at the market since its departure from the intersection in the middle of town. Since the relocation to the park, live music, children’s activities and educational classes have been made possible.
LeBlanc said that the win was unexpected because of the size of other communities in the state.
“It’s humbling to know that such a small community loves it enough to out-vote bigger places,” she said.
Though this win is acknowledgement of the effort to revitalize the market, LeBlanc is still looking toward the future of the farmers market. Down the road, she hopes to implement a greater focus on education, hosting agriculture education classes. She also hopes to bring in more partnerships with MU Extension being high on her list. The big goal she said, was to eventually create a store that is open year round, selling local products and offering a more well-rounded selection of goods.