Vendors hope city council expands Overland Park Farmer\'s Market

STARTING TO RE-OPEN.AS 41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER JORDAN BETTSSHOWS US, ONE LOCALMARKET HOPES TO GROWMORE THAN FOOD.JORDAN BETTS, 41 ACTIONNEWS REPORTER"It's opening day for theOverland Park FarmersMarket.

It attracts thousandsand thousands of people eachyear.

Because of that,organizers are asking the citycouncil help them becomebigger and better."BOB HUGHES HAS A LOVEFOR HONEY."I've been selling honey for along time."AND FOR THE OVERLANDPARK FARMERS MARKET.BOB HUGHES, JORDY'SHONEY"When we come here, wesee our neighbors, friends,folks we go to church with,folks we work with, and thereis a lot of camaraderie."JUST ONE OF 80 OTHERVENDORS.BUT, THEY NEED ONETHING TO KEEP BUSINESSGOING...MORE SPACE.BOB HUGHES, JORDY'SHONEY"Right now if you look around,look at our vendors.

We arejust busting at the seems."THE CITY GAVE THEMARKET A 200,000 DOLLARBASIC UPDATE..NEWLIGHTS, REPAVED THEWalkwayBUT, ORGANIZERS SAYTHEY NEED MORE HELP."We are trying to grow maybe25, 25 percent.

Our vendorsare maxed out on what theycan bring here and how muchspace they can fill.

We want tobe able to offer more andprovide a great communitygathering space."THE CITY CONSIDEREDFOUR LOCATIONS FORTHE FUTURE MARKET BUTTHEY ARE STICKING WITHTHEIR DOWNTOWNLOCATION.FARMERS SAY IT'S MORETHAN JUST AN EXPANSION."But, being able to extend toextend the season.

There area number of us that comeduring the winter.

If we couldkeep this going through thewinter, that could reallybenefitus all."THESE BUSINESS OWNERSHAVE A MESSAGE FORCITY COUNCIL LEADERS.BOB HUGHES, JORDY'SHONEY"The Overland Park Farmersmarket isn't just a farmersmarket, it's the destination.""You just have to come hereand you will get it."IN OVERLAND PARKJORDAN BETTS 41 ACTIONNEWSTHE 41 ACTIO