WE PARTICIPATED IN THE INAUGURAL TULSA LOCAL FOOD WEEK

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1 YEAR-END REPORT 2009

2 WE PARTICIPATED IN THE INAUGURAL TULSA LOCAL FOOD WEEK Market Update: Overall, the Pearl Farmers market location continues to be a good strategic choice convenient to downtown workers and residents, central city residents and neighboring low- to moderateincome residents. The park setting is very attractive and logistically the site works well. The Cherry Street market going strong, the downtown Tulsa market completed its second season and there is talk of a new Brady District market and a new Kendall-Whittier market. Pearl Farmers Market Year-End 2009

3 INTEREST IN OKLAHOMA SUSTAINABLE FOODS HAS GROWN Environmental Assessment Overall interest in Tulsa in sustainable foods has grown, including the following: The Sustainable Green Country (SGC) Buy Fresh Buy Local (BFBL) project The Sustainable Tulsa s Greening the 918, Eat Local: Bite of Tulsa and Salsafest events The North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative (ntedi) Taste of North Tulsa event Healthy corner store initiative; Harvest nonprofit grocery store Multiple farmers markets now operating; regular Tulsa World weekly coverage Growth of school and community gardens; updating of Tulsa municipal ordinance to allow community gardens and on-site produce sales Herb festivals, garden tours and gardening classes Circle Cinema screenings of Fresh, Food Inc. and other films (partnership with SGC) Pearl Farmers Market Year-End

4 Operations The Pearl Market continues to be a small, but viable market. We average of 8-11 vendors with a modest-sized patron base, but have a good shopping crowd (not many strolling lookers only). After experimenting with a switch last year from a Thursday afternoon and evening market to a similar time frame on Monday, we returned to Thursday evenings this year. After the close of the 2009 season, we received an EBT machine to serve WIC and SNAP clients; we purchased wooden nickels in anticipation of EBT operations in A wooden nickel voucher system was implemented for IHCRC patient and client purchases. We reached the end of our initial three-year waiver of park use fees from the Tulsa Parks Department. We have successfully advocated with the City of Tulsa for the waiver to be extended one additional year (2010), with the understanding that a full review of the market operation will be completed and a review will be undertaken to document the City of Tulsa s current and planned food security and economic development strategies. Pending the outcome of this study and review, a decision will be made regarding the assessment of park fees to PFM for the 2011 season and future out-years. Pearl Farmers Market Year-End

5 IHCRC of Tulsa /Fall 09 / 5 Pearl Farmers Market Year-End

6 HASTY BAKE, ELOTÉ, IHCRC AND PEARL MARKET VENDORS SUPPORTED DEMONSTRATION COOKING EVENTS Pearl Farmers Market Year-End

7 Management We explored the feasibility of securing designation as an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, but found it not feasible for PFM in its current corporate form and mission. We received free legal advice from the TU Boesche legal clinic through its Social Enterprise and Economic Development (SEED) law project which serves small business owners and nonprofit organizations. Sustainable Green Country has advised PFM it does not want to continue to serve as a sponsoring organization. SGC supports the growth of all farmers markets, but does not want direct ties to any single market. PFM has updated its corporate bylaws (pending approval). We upgraded our accounting system very significantly in It is now on QuickBooks, with a much enhanced chart of accounts, accounting procedures and regular reports. Vendor market day records are in better shape than last year, and the market has kept a detailed analysis of each week s trading conditions. We had some Board resignations due to multi-year service fatigue. Board member Russell Burkhart assumed the office of the President. Thanks to all volunteer service of all our past and present board members. Pearl Farmers Market Year-End

8 Fiscal We have now operated for three full seasons ( ), closing in the black each year. We paid our market manager for the second year in a row ($1,280 total for the 2009 season). We began 2009 with a modest fiscal reserve of $1,751; we project a balance forward for the 2010 operating year of $ (2009 net revenues over expenses). For the second year in a row, PFM received the maximum $2,500 ODAFF grant. Donations: We continued to secure a limited number of cash and in-kind donations, including: ONEOK made a $200 cash donation using a pass-through arrangement with SGC in order to satisfy 501(c)(3) nonprofit status corporate requirement of ONEOK. TU Boesche legal clinic donated nonprofit organizational development technical assistance and IRS nonprofit legal research. Me and My Mac Design donated web and graphic design services. Pearl Farmers Market Year-End

9 New for 2010: Pearl Farmers Market, Inc. is proud to unveil our new logo, developed by Walsh Branding as a no-cost public service project. Performing musicians donated their artistic talents to PFM on a nearly weekly basis. Kinslow, Keith & Todd Architects donated graphic design and reproduction services to PFM. The Village at Central Park donated bookkeeping, parking and storage services to PFM. KWGS FM 98.6 provided PSA coverage of all area farmers markets promoted by Sustainable Green Country. KWGS provided additional PSA coverage to PFM to augment purchased airtime sponsorships for the Grillin & Chillin and Eloté demonstration cooking events. Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC), a nonprofit health center located across the street from PFM, has provided operational support to PFM, including free use of its parking lot, staff time and operational funding. IHCRC has received a number of healthy food grants, which it uses to help underwrite market operations to purchase vouchers for its diabetes patients, and contribute the staff resources of their community planner, Community Food and Garden Coordinator and dietitians. The IHCRC staff has contributed recipes and conducted Food for Life demonstration cooking events. Hasty Bake, Eloté, IHCRC and Pearl Market vendors supported demonstration cooking events. Marketing Advertising: We maintained a dedicated PFM website and a Constant Contact newsletter. We spent $800 for radio promotions of special demonstration cooking events on KWGS FM 89.5, the local NPR radio affiliate operated by the University of Tulsa. We tried Internet banner ads at the Tulsa World with a very small expenditure of $150. Market day site signage was adequate, but not optimal. Funds are budgeted for the erection of a permanent sign in spring 2010 on private land located immediately adjacent to Centennial Park. Promotion: We participated in the inaugural Oklahoma and Tulsa Local Food Week activities June 12-June 21. We conducted a number of special demonstration cooking events such as the second annual Grillin & Chillin event, which received television advance coverage. We provided live music at nearly every market, consisting of primarily of folk and bluegrass music. We created posters and flyer cards to promote the Pearl Farmers Market. Research: We held a year-end focus group with farmers and vendors and received positive comments and suggestions for improvements in Pearl Farmers Market Year-End

10 PERFORMING MUSICIANS DONATED THEIR ARTISTIC TALENTS ON A WEEKLY BASIS Pearl Farmers Market Year-End

11 Pearl Farmers Market Year-End

12 SE Corner of 6 th and Peoria, Tulsa, OK 4:00-7:00 pm, Thursdays April thru September pearlfarmersmarket.org