40 Years of Creativity and Community: The Story of Bradenton’s Public Market
BY Nicole Miskovic
The smell of fresh-baked pastries, the sound of laughter and conversation, the sight of colorful produce and artwork: These are just a few of the things we experience every weekend at the Bradenton Public Market. For many years, the Market has been the perfect place to find fresh food, buy from local artisans, meet friends and neighbors, and support the community. With its wide array of local vendors and unique products that showcases the best of what our area has to offer, the Market has become a beloved destination for locals and tourists alike.
However, many of us don’t know the humble beginnings of this community gathering place that’s been nestled in the heart of Bradenton for as long as we can remember. A staple of the community for over four decades, the Bradenton Public Market has evolved from a small farmer’s market that started in 1979 to the thriving hub of creativity and entrepreneurship that we now visit every weekend.
Let’s take a journey through the evolution of the Market and discover the secrets behind its enduring success through its biggest milestones.
The Debut: 1979 – 1980
In March 1979, the Bradenton Herald announced the first-ever Bradenton Public Market would open on April 14. Brought to the community by the Bradenton City Council, the Market had 25 farmers lined up to be vendors on an empty corner of Manatee Avenue and Ninth Street.
The debut was accompanied by a few articles recounting the success of its opening from the perspective and input of a few of the local farmers who delivered advice about picking the right produce, as well as a few recipes for the vegetables, and even giving out tips and tricks on what to expect once visitors arrived.
The Market was featured in another newspaper article in The Herald in the fall of 1980 as a highlight of Farm-City Week, which was a gathering hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Manatee and the Manatee County Extension Office to connect city dwellers with farmers and foster appreciation for their contribution to the local economy. It also dove into the experiences of a few shoppers and vendors and focused on celebrating the importance of agriculture to tourists and locals alike.
The Early Years: Late 1990s
With such a successful opening, the Market’s early years highlight its rising popularity while also featuring a bigger variety of vendors selling produce and the addition of artisans selling handmade goods. Known as “Old Main Street Market” during this time period, the gathering also involved a few management evolutions that involved the Bradenton Downtown Development Association, followed by Bradenton Downtown Progress as its hosts.
From moving locations to City Hall then back to Old Main Street again in 1998, to vendors and shoppers alike showing up rain or shine, the Market’s early years are full of trial and error, community input, and neighborhood gatherings that all came together to influence the growth of the market – growing from dozens of visitors in 1979 to more than 2,000 attendees from October to April in 1999!
Today’s Market: Early 2000s – The Present
The Market hit a short snag for a year in 2007 – when it was closed indefinitely as Bradenton Downtown Progress disbanded, leaving no organization to take charge of the farmer’s market. But it only took a year before the Downtown Development Authority took over operations in partnership with Realize Bradenton, making it, once again, a recurring seasonal market that started each fall and ended each spring.
In its years of ups, downs, and growth in tandem with the community, the Market has only continued to increase in size, develop in offerings, and strengthen in its influence as a gathering place for the community each weekend. In fact, since Realize Bradenton’s takeover in management of the Market, the organization has seen a surge in attendance and vendor participation, especially in the last few years, with more than double the involvement compared to previous years.
Lisa Fulk, a Bradenton farmer’s market vendor for more than a decade, has seen firsthand the increase in the Market’s turnout and success year-over-year.
“The Market is historically one of our regular local events that brings people together, allowing vendors like myself and attendees to support Bradenton and feel that hometown pride in where we live,” said Fulk, founder of Sunshine Canning. “And with the management and leadership of Realize Bradenton, it embodies the perfect gathering place to connect with local food, local crafts, and local people, all while supporting our economy.”
Looking to the Future: The Market’s Latest Evolution
With summer around the corner, we find ourselves at yet another turning point for the Market as Realize Bradenton introduces the first-ever summer Public Market. Not only does this come in response to the changing population of the area as well as increased demand, but it also showcases the community organization’s continued commitment to support local farmers, vendors, artisans, and more.
“Our Realize Bradenton staff takes pride in creating this unique space for the community to gather. We hope that the addition of summer dates for the Market will provide the opportunity to continue those connections throughout the year,” said Andrea Knies, Director of Community Engagement at Realize Bradenton.
The upcoming summer Market is set to take place on the last Saturday of each month – June 24, July 29, and August 26. The event will be held at the intersection of Old Main Street and 3rd Ave W. and is scheduled to run from 9am to 2pm. This provides a great opportunity for residents and visitors alike to explore and shop for fresh and locally grown produce, as well as to connect with local farmers and vendors.
Photos provided by: Manatee County Public Library System
