Daily Inspiration: Meet Cathy Harms

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathy Harms.

Hi Cathy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As the market manager for Midtown Farmers Market in North Hills, I manage the market operations working with 37+ vendors, programming partners, sponsors, and an amazing production crew. I have a passion (you need that to be at work by 5:30 am on a Saturday!) for supporting local farms, bakers, and makers. Our market is an entrepreneurial hub modeled around sustainability. My favorite part of the market is getting to know the unique small businesses that come to market and the fabulous community that supports us. Many of our vendors this season started their business during the pandemic. They found their niche and turned obstacles into opportunities.

Our market is a producers-only market, meaning that vendors must grow, make, and source their products from within 100 miles of the market. We build a community around our farmers market with pet adoption drives, partnering with area nonprofits, farm to table chef demos, wellness days with free workouts, family-friendly fun on the green, live music, self-care Saturdays with mimosas, sustainability days focusing on composting, recycling, green living and more. We are proud of our farmer’s market gleaning project has partnered with the food pantry to donate over 3500 pounds of fresh produce this season to families in need.

This is a fun and enjoyable job, the farmers market is my happy place! Our community loves supporting these small, unique hard-working entrepreneurs and knowing where their food comes from, how many hands have touched it, how far it has traveled and how fresh it is. Now more than ever is the time to support our local NC businesses!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a farmers market during a pandemic has had its share of obstacles along the way like adapting to changing safety protocols and labor shortages. But building community is worth the challenges. We work hard to organize the market every week and love to see our vendors succeed and grow and our market-goers happy and healthy!

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice is to find a group of peers in your field for support and advice when starting out. We have an advisory group of vendors and community partners who help resolve tricky market issues, advise, and keep the whole of the market in mind–vendors and those attending the market.

Contact Info:

• Website: midtownfarmers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midtownfarmers
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidtownFarmers
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MidtownFarmers