Info on visitors to Farmers’ Markets

For communities interested in Farmers’ Markets the following research findings may be of some value:
(i) The majority of visitors earn between $40 -49,000 pa
(ii) 40.8% of visitors to markets were tourists, the rest are locals (iii) Of the 40.8%, 20.9% were day trippers, 16.5% stay for the weekend and 3.4% stay for more than 3 nights.

Lisa Melsen, the Honours student from La Trobe Uni who conducted the project said she didn’t look at motivation for travel so she couldn’t say whether people go to a region especially for the market, though this is the general feeling. She also found:

(iv) many visitors to the market are repeat visitors to the region
(v) visitors to markets are also likely to visit wineries and cellar doors, art and craft produce outlets, shops, natural attractions, outdoor adventure activities and friends and relatives
(vi) despite having no intention to visit other attractions or participate in other activities, visitors did in fact do this after they had been to the market. (www.cvtc.com.au)