(Continued from main page)
A number of people in the community set to work almost immediately. One group worked on reaching out to major grocery chains like Kroger and Meijer, asking whether they might consider a smaller version of their regular stores for our town. Another group worked on forming a new kind of store, one that would connect the producers of local foods to the community. That group would eventually get 501c3 status and form Acorn Farmers Market & Cafe. Manchester already had a weekly farmers market that operated from May to October, on Thursday afternoons. Over the course of that summer the volunteer board for Acorn first found a location and then adapted it to fit the new format, so that in October the store could take over where the weekly farmers market left off. (Fun fact: Acorn actually merged with the previous farmers market.) Acorn was up and running, selling fresh local foods to the community three days a week.
There have been many changes since then (location, hours, products, staff) but the core of the business remains the same. Acorn works with vendors of local produce, meats, beverages, breads, plants, honey, and many other products, and sells them to the community on a consignment basis. The vendors set the price and determine what and how much they will bring, adjusting seasonally.
Of course, between February 2019 and now the world went through a global pandemic which affected many, many things including construction costs and timelines. Acorn was able to partner with the current owners of the Manchester Market (a very different store!), renting space in that newly renovated building… but that meant that they had to be closed from April to September 2021, with no income but many expenses.
How does Acorn Farmers Market & Cafe make Manchester a better place? They have returned more than $250,000 to local vendors since opening in the first location, and that means money in the pockets of local farmers, bakers, and craftspeople. Shoppers are now able to buy fresh local produce all day, every day, not just on Thursday afternoons. That head of lettuce you bought to make a salad for your dinner didn’t ride here in a refrigerated truck from California, it grew in some dirt a few miles away, and the person that will get the purchase price lives nearby.
Acorn needs your help to become the best store it can be. If you see the value that Acorn has brought to this community, please consider making a donation, or setting up a recurring donation. Click below to see some donation levels you might consider, and thank you for your ongoing support of Acorn!
A number of people in the community set to work almost immediately. One group worked on reaching out to major grocery chains like Kroger and Meijer, asking whether they might consider a smaller version of their regular stores for our town. Another group worked on forming a new kind of store, one that would connect the producers of local foods to the community. That group would eventually get 501c3 status and form Acorn Farmers Market & Cafe. Manchester already had a weekly farmers market that operated from May to October, on Thursday afternoons. Over the course of that summer the volunteer board for Acorn first found a location and then adapted it to fit the new format, so that in October the store could take over where the weekly farmers market left off. (Fun fact: Acorn actually merged with the previous farmers market.) Acorn was up and running, selling fresh local foods to the community three days a week.
There have been many changes since then (location, hours, products, staff) but the core of the business remains the same. Acorn works with vendors of local produce, meats, beverages, breads, plants, honey, and many other products, and sells them to the community on a consignment basis. The vendors set the price and determine what and how much they will bring, adjusting seasonally.
Of course, between February 2019 and now the world went through a global pandemic which affected many, many things including construction costs and timelines. Acorn was able to partner with the current owners of the Manchester Market (a very different store!), renting space in that newly renovated building… but that meant that they had to be closed from April to September 2021, with no income but many expenses.
How does Acorn Farmers Market & Cafe make Manchester a better place? They have returned more than $250,000 to local vendors since opening in the first location, and that means money in the pockets of local farmers, bakers, and craftspeople. Shoppers are now able to buy fresh local produce all day, every day, not just on Thursday afternoons. That head of lettuce you bought to make a salad for your dinner didn’t ride here in a refrigerated truck from California, it grew in some dirt a few miles away, and the person that will get the purchase price lives nearby.
Acorn needs your help to become the best store it can be. If you see the value that Acorn has brought to this community, please consider making a donation, or setting up a recurring donation. Click below to see some donation levels you might consider, and thank you for your ongoing support of Acorn!
