New SDSPA Board Member, Barb Cromwell
Barb Cromwell, Black Hills Farmers Market Manager, joined the SDSPA board in December.
The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association would like to welcome Barbra Cromwell to our Board of Directors! Barb comes to us as a longtime active member of the SD local foods community and three years as manager at the Black Hills Farmers Market in Rapid City. It’s a labor of love for her to work for the market in her hometown, and she brings that excitement and positive attitude to the SDSPA board.
As a mother of two, Barb understands the desire her customers have to provide safe and healthy food for a family, as well as their desire to know where their food comes from.
“For me, it’s about the community aspect of local foods, that people know the story of their food and the people who make it,” Cromwell said, “Local foods is about relationships.”
The BHFM offers fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, eggs, baked goods, canned goods, bee products, pantry items, personal care products, herbs and spices, plants, and artisan goods during both summer and winter markets.
She is using that knack for relationship building in the South Dakota farmers market manager group and SDSPA Farmers Market Chapter. “I’m excited to make time to create a coalition, and about getting a go-to resource for Farmers Markets across the state.”
“The Chapter will be providing referrals, assistance and resources all in one place to help markets build and grow,” Cromwell said.
Barb would like to help share her knowledge and expertise of the Double Up Food Bucks program for Farmers Markets and other statewide initiatives that have been beneficial at BHFM.
“I love being a part of creating a food system that we want to see,” Cromwell said.
Aerial view of the Black Hills Farmers Market. Cromwell is involved in the S.D. farmers market manager group/SDSPA Farmers Market Chapter.
SDSPA is thankful for Barb’s knowledge and vision, and we look forward to working with her on our board!