Pleasantville’s renowned Farmers Market in Memorial Plaza has changed a lot since its founding in 1998. The market began with only four stands and without the types of recreational activities that complement the main market today.

Over time, residents began organizing activities such as apple pie contests and live entertainment to enhance the market, and they spoke to representatives of successful markets around the state. Since 2013, the market has been operated by Foodchester, Inc., a Pleasantville-based non-profit organization.

“Many of those volunteers still contribute through Foodchester, which now manages the market on behalf of the Village,” said Market Manager Steven Bates.

Bates said the market is truly a team effort. But managing an increasingly complex community event can be challenging.

In addition to operating an official website, the Farmers Market also issues press releases, uses social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, places ads in print and digital channels and post flyers around town, and emails a newsletter to subscribers each Thursday morning.

“As a community event, and as a venue to support regional farms and the food artisans that source ingredients from the region, we rely upon collaboration with many partners,” he said.

Those partners, Bates said, include “the community (we cannot achieve our mission if shoppers do not find the event compelling and arrive year-round), our vendors, our board volunteers, and over 15 Market Interns (young people that arrive on Saturdays to support the market and its events), with Sponsors, Business Supporters, our Chamber and our Village (all of which assist the market in various ways), and with promotional partners in local media that help us highlight the event.”