For many people, going to the farmers market is an event. People bring friends or company from out of town. The market is a social venue where people run into their neighbors. They get to know the farmers, bakers, soap-makers and even the musicians busking on Saturday mornings.

But behind the colorful products and the socializing is a complicated business.

As a consumer of farmers market fare for many years, I never would have guessed at the delicate balance the market's board of directors must strike between market vendors and consumers. There are bylaws, applications, rules, consumer advocacy issues, advertising, fundraising and special events to consider. Members of the board of directors try to uphold the integrity of the market, which is based on allowing participation only from vendors who commit to selling what they grow or produce themselves. Attracting more consumers, the day-to-day operation of two weekday and one weekend market, and planning for the future are common topics.

Salsalicious by farm08

The board is comprised of a salaried market coordinator, six board members who also are vendors at the market, and three community representatives. The group meets monthly throughout the year, and sometimes more often as the need arises. I've served on the board for three years, first as a community representative and now as a vendor member.

Of course, not all markets operate this way. As the popularity of markets has soared across the country, so, too, have different models. There are tiny markets run by the vendors themselves without a board or coordinator, huge year-round markets run by city governments, non-profit markets that aim to educate as much as sell goods, and private markets in a community run by individuals or businesses, such as the Cottins Market in Lawrence. (If you'd like to learn more about the different kinds or learn about all-things-farmers-market, check out the Farmers Market Coalition.)

Twice each year, the board and the entire group of vendors get together to discuss policy changes, vote for board members or bylaw changes, review the previous year and receive information about the next season.

Each vendor is a small business. When the whole group is together, I see the market for what it is: dozens of different small businesses all rolled into one. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Salsalicious2 by farm08