Small Businesses, Big Impact: the Shoreview Farmers Market

Although summer is winding down, the Shoreview Farmers Market remains in full swing! Open every Tuesday through mid-October at the Shoreview Community Center’s lower parking lot, the market is an enjoyable way to support community health through fresh, locally grown produce and plants in a welcoming outdoor setting.
Far more than a weekly shopping destination, the market is a vital engine for community and small business development. With over 30 vendors offering local produce, crafts, baked goods, foods, and more, the market is a powerful incubator for entrepreneurship and a sustained investor in the local economy. The City of Shoreview invites everyone to make it a regular part of their Tuesday evening! 

Hub for small business

For emerging entrepreneurs, artisans, and small-scale farmers, the market provides critical access to a customer base they may not otherwise reach. Each vendor benefits from face‑to‑face interaction with shoppers, which fosters trust and enables them to build brand loyalty. The city’s guidelines encourage locally produced goods only, ensuring that revenue stays local and economic returns directly benefit Shoreview residents and small businesses.

Learn about the vendors on the City of Shoreview’s website.

Strengthening community

The market strengthens Shoreview’s identity as a connected, forward‑thinking suburb with a community‑oriented mindset. It brings residents together, offering residents a chance to meet neighbors, enjoy fresh foods, connect with producers, and learn about what’s in season. A frequent‑shopper program rewards repeat visits and fosters regular foot traffic that supports vendor stability and customer engagement.

Supporting equity and food access

Along with broader Minnesota agricultural initiatives like SNAP‑EBT Market Bucks and the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, the Shoreview market helps ensure fresh local food is accessible to lower-income residents and needy families. This dual focus on quality food access and equitable service amplifies the market’s community impact, transforming it into a space that fosters health, inclusion, and economic opportunity.

Economic development

The success of the farmers market reflects Shoreview’s broader economic strategy, as guided by its Economic Development Commission. The Commission emphasizes promoting local businesses, fostering networking, and creating pathways for small business retention and growth. The market is a visible, tangible forum that aligns with this mission, bringing vibrancy to public space and showing the city’s support for home-grown enterprise.

Beyond the market

Whether you are a consumer or a producer, there are many opportunities in Minnesota for healthy eating or small agribusiness assistance. Minnesota Grown connects over 1,200 member farms, markets, and value‑added producers with consumers and wholesale buyers statewide. Members gain recognized branding, free marketing materials, directory listings, and cost‑share support for labels and signage. It maintains a directory of farmers’ markets throughout the state.

The Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association provides leadership, programs, and services while advocating on regulatory issues, negotiating cooperative purchases, and supporting through their Farmers’ Market Academy and Cottage Foods Academy. 

And don’t despair as October draws to an end! The Shoreview Farmers Market moves indoors at the Fireside Lounge on November 18 and December 13. ThinkShoreview calls people of all ages to witness this model of local economic development in action for themselves!