An idea over 10 years in the making, the inaugural Harvey Park Farmers Market launches in Southwest Denver this May, running every Saturday through October.
Founders and lifelong Coloradans Allie Bronston and Corey Sampson have called Harvey Park home for more than 11 years and have dreamed of walkable access to fresh, local food for their family and neighbors. “I talked about it constantly for like 10 years with Corey, and I say all the time, I love our neighborhood, I just wish we had a farmers market,” says Bronston.
Bronston and Sampson are avid lovers of farmers markets, but as parents, they struggled to find a farmers market that fit for their family. They found that many markets were on streets too narrow for strollers and kids, making the experience stressful and confining sometimes. And with really little kids, they found there wasn’t much to do while trying to shop.
“The impetus was that it’s a beautiful neighborhood. We love raising our kids there, and this was a piece that was really lacking for us,” explains Bronston.
With more than 62,000 residents, the 80219 zip code is the most populous in the City of Denver and is both racially and ethnically diverse, with a high concentration of families and Latino residents. While the area has historically lacked a walkable option for fresh produce and Colorado-grown food, it has a vibrant culinary culture of restaurants, food producers and chefs.
Bronston and Sampson worked to handpick vendors they thought were a good fit for the neighborhood. By bringing together regional farmers and ranchers, emerging and established food businesses, and community members, the market aims to become an anchor for the community where producers feel supported and people keep coming back.
The list of 50+ vendors for the inaugural season showcases neighborhood-based vendors, locally owned farm operations, and food offerings that reflect the local culture. Farms joining the line-up include Rebel Farm, Athmar Farms and Fleischer Family Farm. Prepared food will be served up from area businesses like Joy Hill, Taco Bella and R&R’s Texas Tacos & BBQ. Other hyper-local businesses like Harvey Park Flowers, Sfoglina and Tortilleria Las III Americas round out the offerings.
“We started by pulling together our family’s grocery list. What do we get? What do we buy? We buy milk, we buy eggs, we buy bread, we buy produce, but then getting really granular, like crackers, pickles, you know, coffee,” Bronston explains, describing her family of five’s grocery list.
Skinny P. Ranch is bringing two core offerings, poultry and eggs, from its farm in Strasburg. This is the ranch’s first full farmers market and owner Przemek Lott hopes to build connections in more ways than one.
“A large part of the appeal of a farmers market is having the opportunity to meet who is making your food, which matters,” said Lott. “We’re also looking to strengthen our community and farming relationships, both for collaboration purposes but also for mental and emotional support. There is a lot of hard work and risk involved in farming, and nobody understands that quite like another farmer.”
The market is located at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy in Harvey Park, with access to a children’s playground, a pond, a turf field, seating options, and green space. In addition to the vendor booths, the market will showcase live music from local acts each week.
Sampson explains that like the vendors, many of the musicians scheduled to play are also local; seven of the musical groups scheduled to play at the market this season currently live in the neighborhood.
“I think we always wanted it to be a third space. Southwest Denver, while amazing, doesn’t have a walkable option for accessing local food, so providing a full grocery shopping experience was primary. But then adjacent to that was the idea that we wanted people to come gather,” says Bronston.
She further explains that the couple wants families to come hang out and spend a Saturday morning—grocery shop, eat good food, listen to live music, and enjoy spaces for kids to play.
“I would say the messages I’m getting are, especially from parents, ‘This one market we go to is great, but it’s too crowded,’ or ‘It’s really hard to take my kids.’ So we are hearing that what we were longing for is something other people wanted too.”
The market will also accept SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks, where families can get dollar for dollar on purchases like fresh fruits, veggies, and produce at the market. There will also be a dedicated, bilingual staff member on site to assist.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday beginning May 2 through October 31. More information can be found at www.HarveyParkFarmersMarket.com.
“The goal is that it creates a true outing for parents that’s accessible and fun and outdoors,” Bronston emphasises. “Come for breakfast, stay for lunch. Come for your coffee, do your grocery shopping, get a breakfast sandwich, and then catch your kid’s game and come back. Pack your swimsuits and your bikes because it’s all there.”
