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The West Virginia Winter Blues Farmers Market (WVWBFM) is an indoor, producer-only event designed to showcase the bounty that West Virginia farmers and food businesses can produce during winter months. This annual event has been held for sixteen years, and in the last nine years it has been held in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. This Public-Public Partnership (PuP) model has proven to be a successful example of how to pool resources and leverage technical expertise and human capital to deliver low-cost services to farmers. WVWBFM is free to the public and encourages customers to shop a diverse array of products, including fresh vegetables, maple syrup, meats, cheeses, soaps, preserves, and more. 

This study examines the West Virginia Winter Blues Farmers Market (WVWBFM) as a dynamic driver of economic development for small-scale agricultural producers in the region. Utilizing quantitative data from 2020-2025, alongside qualitative insights from farmer interviews, this research investigates the event's capacity to generate significant returns on investment within a condensed, five-hour timeframe. The WVWBFM's growth, evidenced by a surge in vendor participation (61 in 2020 to 126 in 2025) and total sales ($50,681.33 to $210,685), underscores its increasing economic significance. Notably, the average sales per vendor have consistently risen, indicating a substantial positive impact on individual producer income.  

This study moves beyond immediate sales figures to analyze the extended economic implications of the WVWBFM. Farmer interviews reveal that the event fosters crucial direct-to-consumer relationships, leading to repeat business and brand loyalty beyond the market's duration. The event’s 6,000 attendees in 2025, with an average of $35 per person spent, highlight the market's role in stimulating local spending. The WVWBFM serves as an incubator for new agricultural entrepreneurs, with many first-time vendors returning the following year. Surveys conducted post-event assess the market's influence on farmers' long-term business strategies, including increased market access, enhanced product visibility, and expanded customer networks. Demonstrating the WVWBFM's ability to generate substantial economic impact within a limited timeframe, this research illuminates the potential of targeted, short-duration events as effective tools for fostering small farm economic development in rural communities.