Pueblo West Community Marketplace needs support to continue four decades of tradition

Jul. 6—A market with roots in Pueblo County extending over four decades, the Pueblo West Community Marketplace needs community support to continue the longstanding tradition.

The Farmers Marketeers, a group of Colorado State University Extension Master Gardeners, began running a farmer's market in 1977, but after losing several vendors and navigating a struggle with location, the market was almost led to its demise.

"We were in midtown for many years," said Chris Comins, who works for the Farmers Marketeers. "Then a few years ago, we had a collaboration with the El Pueblo Museum, that didn't really work out. So, for one year we were (unable to host the market)."

Knowing the history of the market, Comins added, the Marketeers discussed their options, ultimately finding a home for it in Pueblo West.

With a new destination also came a rebrand for the market.

"People come in and they say, 'This is not a farmers market. You don't have very many farmers here,'" Comins said. "Right now, we only have one produce vendor. You have to remember all of the farmers started their own markets out in the county. So, we felt we couldn't really call it a farmers market, but it is a marketplace."

The marketplace has 25 vendors, most of which are small businesses throughout Pueblo County. That number fluctuates, but in the past the market has had more than 50 vendors.

The number of vendors isn't what concerns Comins. She noted the biggest obstacle the marketplace faces is that not many people know it is still alive.

"Every year we've had people say, 'We didn't know this was out here,'" Comins said. "It's still just getting the word out."

Saturday was a busy day for the market, Comins noted, with around 300 visitors, but that number has been as low as 100 some weekends.

Held every Saturday from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. in Civic Center Park in Pueblo West, the marketplace's purpose is to raise funds to provide scholarships to local students who are involved in 4H, FFA, master gardeners and various other programs that support agriculture.

Comins noted that students that apply for the grants provided by the Farmers Marketeers don't have to commit to a degree program within agricultural business, but that the scholarships are mostly given to those who participate in agricultural programs prior to college.

The scholarships are applicable to any college and are not limited to the Colorado State University system of schools.

Over the course of its four decades, the market has only had to close one year — even surviving through the COVID-19 pandemic. Comins said community support is needed to ensure the support to students and local businesses can continue.

"I just want to make sure the tradition continues on," Comins said. "It's not big money, but it's tradition and it's helped a lot of students. We have people who come by here and give donations because they say, 'I got one of those scholarships at one time.' So, for me it's tradition. You want to hold on to that."

The Pueblo West Marketplace will be open every Saturday through the end of September. More information about the marketplace can be found on its Facebook page www.facebook.com/pwmarketplace.

Chieftain and Pueblo West View reporter Alexis Smith can be reached by email at asmith@chieftain.com or on Twitter @smith_alexis27.