What a difference a year makes

This week, the Statehouse Market is celebrating its first birthday. The market first opened on July 12, 2012 with six vendors and six food trucks present. We had a 10 week schedule, a goal of providing fresh, healthy options to state employees and high hopes that those employees would be excited about the event and show up.

And show up you did! That first week, we estimate that more than 1,500 people visited the market and lines were long the entire time. Even through a terrible drought, record heat and a steep learning curve for the market staff, the market thrived. Since then, you have continued to attend and the market has continued to grow.

For the 2013 season, we have expanded the market to 12 vendors and 11 food trucks each week. Our season is now 21 weeks long. Presented by Invest in Your Health, the state employee wellness program, the Statehouse Market is offering even more fresh, healthy options for you to enjoy at lunch and take home to your family. Vendors and food trucks are even working together to provide special entrees that provide a great tractor-to-truck experience for the customer.

None of this would have been possible without a determined market team and supportive administration. Credit also goes to the first vendors, food trucks and not-for-profit partners willing to take a chance on us. Our biggest thanks however go to you, the market attendees.

We receive compliments each week that remind us why the Statehouse Market is so important. You also provide critical feedback that helps us to improve the market from week to week and year to year. Keep it coming!

We encourage you to e-mail us or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. If you are not the social media type, or just prefer to talk face-to-face, look for us at the market each Thursday. We are the ones in the blue Statehouse Market t-shirts.

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