Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
Session 7.11 Foodways and Nutrition
Presentation #1 Title
The Wild Ramp- a Local Food Market Encouraging Economic Development in the Tri-state Region
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
The Wild Ramp is a non-profit located in Huntington, WV which operates a year-round community-supported market that provides a viable economic outlet for local food producers while providing consumers access to locally grown agricultural products. A group of producers/farmers and consumers came together early in 2012 to establish The Wild Ramp as an indoor, year-round farmers’ market. We believed that providing a conventional grocery-store location where farmers could sell their goods during regular business hours would give consumers better access to local food. Since opening in July 2012, The Wild Ramp has signed up more than 100 local producers to sell products in the market, and has returned over $250,000 to our farmers, while also offering educational opportunities to producers and consumers. Local farmers have been able to expand their production and new food-based businesses have been developed as a result of having The Wild Ramp as a viable retail outlet. This presentation will focus on the market set-up, including legal, financial, volunteer, and retail specifics, as well as the future intentions of The Wild Ramp to develop other food-related businesses to encourage local entrepreneurship and economic development.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Katharine Lea is Vice President of the Board of Directors for The Wild Ramp, a local food market.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Gail Patton is the Executive Director of Unlimited Future, a business incubator located in Huntington, WV, and is also the President of the Board of Directors for The Wild Ramp.
The Wild Ramp- a Local Food Market Encouraging Economic Development in the Tri-state Region
Harris Hall 303
The Wild Ramp is a non-profit located in Huntington, WV which operates a year-round community-supported market that provides a viable economic outlet for local food producers while providing consumers access to locally grown agricultural products. A group of producers/farmers and consumers came together early in 2012 to establish The Wild Ramp as an indoor, year-round farmers’ market. We believed that providing a conventional grocery-store location where farmers could sell their goods during regular business hours would give consumers better access to local food. Since opening in July 2012, The Wild Ramp has signed up more than 100 local producers to sell products in the market, and has returned over $250,000 to our farmers, while also offering educational opportunities to producers and consumers. Local farmers have been able to expand their production and new food-based businesses have been developed as a result of having The Wild Ramp as a viable retail outlet. This presentation will focus on the market set-up, including legal, financial, volunteer, and retail specifics, as well as the future intentions of The Wild Ramp to develop other food-related businesses to encourage local entrepreneurship and economic development.
