In 2022, we were awarded the Paris-Bourbon County Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year and in 2024, we were awarded the Good’s Based Business of the Year.
These awards are voted on by our local community leaders and peers and given based on our local community impact and service.
The Farmers’ Market of Paris and Bourbon County is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future United States Internal Revenue law.
The Paris-Bourbon County Farmers market seeks to provide outreach and service within the community through other non-profits, private and public charity, as well as governmental assistance. In addition to maintaining the indoor and outdoor market facilities the market also serves as the welcome center for Paris and Bourbon County in collaboration with the Paris-Bourbon County Tourism. Lastly, the market and board seek to provide educational opportunities to various groups with a focus on consumers and vendors.
As a non-profit we do the following:
Empower the use and support of governmental assistance programs- The Market, via the individual Farmers whom the Market supports, participates in two USDA voucher programs: WIC (Women and Infant Children) and SFMNP (Senior Farm Market Nutrition Program), and the Inside Market is now accepting SNAP (USDA food stamp program). These programs provide relief to low-income families at a convenient downtown location, where many of the community that use SNAP can access by walking if other transportation is unavailable.
Offer affordable market facilities - the Market facilities, which include a meeting room, public restrooms, fully functioning kitchen, tables and chairs, TV for video/computer presentation and white boards, are used for many community events. Non-profits are able to utilize our space free of cost, as a service to our community.
Offer a public market space- Community building is the mindset of the Market. It is the place where the whole community comes together: people from rural and city, business and agri-business, growers and consumers.
Serve as the Welcome Center for Paris and Bourbon County - The Market operates a Welcome Center in partnership with Paris-Bourbon County Tourism Board. This is an important part of the Community’s effort to increase tourism. The Market employees, as well as vendors, provide both information and local interaction with those traveling through our community.
Providing educational opportunities and outreach:
Educating consumers - the very popular CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) basket program has been an innovative way to expose a variety of new vegetables to the customer base at the Market. The weekly basket is composed of freshly harvested produce and products from multiple vendors and spotlights the particular items that are in season that week. Customers are often given vegetables that they would not ordinarily purchase but are pleasantly surprised to explore new recipes and tastes.
Facilitating education programs for vendors - The Market supports a variety of produce vendors from small gardeners to larger scale commercial vegetable growers by not only providing a great location to sell, but working as a resource coordinator, working with State of Kentucky coordinators, for educational training programs such as WIC (Women and Infant Children) and SFMNP (Senior Farm Market Nutritional Program).