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The Downtown Tupelo Main Street executive board on Tuesday approved the concept, which was the idea of Vicky Manning, a DTMSA volunteer and a Lee County librarian.
The plans right now call for 26 vendors ages 17 and under. They’ll pay $7 for a booth to sell their locally grown produce and flowers.
The goal is for the market to open Thursdays during the market season from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the current market location on South Spring Street. DTMSA hopes to kick it off in May.
In addition to administering the market, the association will coordinate workshops for the children about gardening, healthy eating habits, business practices and merchandising tips.
“It’s more than just the actual growing process,” said Debbie Brangenberg, DTMSA’s executive director.
Along with providing an educational opportunity for the children, Brangenberg said the market will answer a frequently asked request for an evening market.
“We have a lot of people who want to come to the market but don’t want to get up early to get the best produce,” she said.
The association tried an evening market in 2006, but the concept didn’t work. Brangenberg said she doesn’t know exactly while it failed, but said the new version with the children vendors should help it gain traction.
However, she said, if not enough younger vendors sign up, the evening market will be used to accommodate producers who are on the waiting list for the regular Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday markets.
Contact Carlie Kollath at (662) 678-1598 or carlie.kollath@djournal.com.