Latest / Inside West Palm Beach / Get Ready For The WPB GreenMarket!
Transcript
- 13:07:06Welcome to Inside West Palm
- 13:07:08Beach. I'm Jerry Marcello.
- 13:07:10After a long hard summer, people are
- 13:07:12ready to enjoy a fun, comfortable fall in
- 13:07:15winter here in South Florida.
- 13:07:17There's no better way to enjoy the
- 13:07:18weather than a day out at the
- 13:07:20West Palm Beach Green Market.
- 13:07:22The Green Market has become the place to
- 13:07:24bring your dog, bring the family and
- 13:07:26sample food and produce from a long list
- 13:07:28of top flight vendors.
- 13:07:30Today, we'll talk about what's different
- 13:07:32for 2027 and what you need to know to get
- 13:07:35the most out of West
- 13:07:36Palm's Landmark Weekly Event.
- 13:07:38That's next on Inside West Palm Beach.
- 13:07:51Joining me now is Angela Poco, the City's
- 13:07:53Marketing and Community Events Manager.
- 13:07:55Angela, welcome.
- 13:07:57Thank you for having me, Jerry.
- 13:07:58I appreciate you coming back once again.
- 13:08:00We're talking about the Green Market.
- 13:08:02For those people who haven't been there,
- 13:08:05which is amazing to think that someone
- 13:08:06hasn't, let's get an overview.
- 13:08:09What's it about? Is it really just
- 13:08:11produce or is there more?
- 13:08:13Oh, Jerry, it's so much more.
- 13:08:15Our market is comprised of 140 vendors.
- 13:08:19Whoa, 140 different vendors?
- 13:08:21140, yeah.
- 13:08:22That would be a lot of vegetables if we
- 13:08:24were just talking vegetables.
- 13:08:24That would be a lot of vegetables, yeah.
- 13:08:26We have all different categories that you
- 13:08:28can fit into, but we really do take the
- 13:08:31model of what a true green market is
- 13:08:33supposed to look like.
- 13:08:34We have percentages and the max amounts
- 13:08:36that we'll take in each category.
- 13:08:39This year, we dropped down a little. We
- 13:08:41started last year with 150,
- 13:08:43but they're all vendors that came back
- 13:08:45again this year, except for a few.
- 13:08:48Again, that's what the
- 13:08:49process is all about.
- 13:08:50Different reasons that people don't come
- 13:08:51back, but then we had vendors that wanted
- 13:08:53to expand their footprint.
- 13:08:54For us, it made sense to not go higher in
- 13:08:57volume, not quantity. We wanted quality.
- 13:09:01If I recall, you have a fairly specific
- 13:09:05process for selecting these vendors.
- 13:09:07We do.
- 13:09:09Last season, to start off last season,
- 13:09:15which would have been 2024 when we did
- 13:09:17the judging, I do believe for 2025-26.
- 13:09:20We ended up with over 940 applications in
- 13:09:25for the market, which equivolates to
- 13:09:28basically four days of judging.
- 13:09:31The reason I bring this up is because our
- 13:09:34green market is unique in the aspect that
- 13:09:36we judge and jury every single vendor
- 13:09:38that comes in there.
- 13:09:41It's not just, "Oh,
- 13:09:43yeah, this looks great."
- 13:09:44Literally, it's like they're shark tank.
- 13:09:46They come in, they display their product,
- 13:09:48they have two minutes to discuss their
- 13:09:51pitch with the products that they have,
- 13:09:53then the judges have the
- 13:09:54opportunity to ask more questions.
- 13:09:57It's a peer judge. They're peer judges.
- 13:10:00It's people that are qualified in events,
- 13:10:04qualified in marketing, they're small
- 13:10:05businesses, they're chefs.
- 13:10:08It really does break
- 13:10:10it down to experience.
- 13:10:11We want to make sure that
- 13:10:12we have the best of the best.
- 13:10:14That's what makes our
- 13:10:14market the best of the best.
- 13:10:16It's our vendors. We've
- 13:10:17got an incredible venue.
- 13:10:19We have everything you could want right
- 13:10:20in one space, but we really do pride
- 13:10:23ourselves on the quality of our vendors.
- 13:10:25When you have 900-plus people applying
- 13:10:30for it, obviously your judges need to
- 13:10:33have a very specific criteria for what
- 13:10:36the eventual objective is.
- 13:10:40What kind of a vendor do you have there?
- 13:10:43What kind of vendor are you looking for?
- 13:10:45Again, we take it to percentages.
- 13:10:49Obviously, our highest percent is
- 13:10:51farmer-grower because we try to stay true
- 13:10:54to what a grain market is.
- 13:10:55But then when you start breaking it down,
- 13:10:57we have dairy meat seafood, which is also
- 13:11:02a farmer, but a different type of farmer.
- 13:11:05We have cafe, which is where your
- 13:11:07pastries and a lot of
- 13:11:09your decadent stuff comes in.
- 13:11:10We have gourmet processed
- 13:11:11foods. We have beverages.
- 13:11:13We have categories
- 13:11:14that you could fit into.
- 13:11:15Last year was the first year we
- 13:11:17introduced health and wellness because
- 13:11:19that trend is, you can
- 13:11:20see, sweeping through.
- 13:11:22There are so many people out there that
- 13:11:23have different products and stuff for it,
- 13:11:27but they're health and
- 13:11:28wellness-focused versus...
- 13:11:30We were trying to figure out, "Is this a
- 13:11:31good fit for the market?"
- 13:11:32It was. It opened the door for new
- 13:11:36vendors to come in under that.
- 13:11:38We're also unique that we started doing a
- 13:11:40two-year process because of the amount of
- 13:11:44time it takes to judge and jury,
- 13:11:45we figured it's a year to get in and see
- 13:11:47how you're doing and see if it's a good
- 13:11:49fit for us and for you.
- 13:11:51Then the second year, you come back, but
- 13:11:54then this year, come March,
- 13:11:56it goes out again for a month.
- 13:11:59We will start that
- 13:11:59process all over again.
- 13:12:02We also felt, when I say "quality over
- 13:12:06quantity," looking back at
- 13:12:08the Green Market's history,
- 13:12:10some of these vendors have
- 13:12:11been with us from the beginning.
- 13:12:13Small amounts, but you
- 13:12:15figure this is our 32nd year.
- 13:12:18I thought there should be some level of
- 13:12:22legacy vendors, what we call them.
- 13:12:24This year, we were excited to say we took
- 13:12:26in four more, but they have
- 13:12:28to be here 15 or more seasons.
- 13:12:30Because by then, if you're 15 or more
- 13:12:32seasons, you know what you're doing.
- 13:12:35Your product speaks for itself and you
- 13:12:37are coming back and you are giving the
- 13:12:38customer what they need
- 13:12:39because you figured it out.
- 13:12:42We're not going to make you go through
- 13:12:43that process anymore.
- 13:12:44As long as you want to keep coming, we're
- 13:12:46going to keep having you.
- 13:12:48Tremendous.
- 13:12:50One of the things that strikes me by
- 13:12:52listening to how you describe this
- 13:12:54process is that the
- 13:12:56focus is on the quality
- 13:12:58of the product that the vendor is
- 13:13:00bringing and also the satisfaction level
- 13:13:02of the people who are there.
- 13:13:04You could have the greatest product, but
- 13:13:07if people are coming away from your booth
- 13:13:10or from the
- 13:13:10experience of working with you,
- 13:13:12not being happy, that's
- 13:13:13something that we don't want to do.
- 13:13:14Absolutely.
- 13:13:15That's the other thing too.
- 13:13:16If you come down here on a Saturday, the
- 13:13:19other thing that I love, and this gets us
- 13:13:22to why we went in the world right here.
- 13:13:25After reflecting on last year's market,
- 13:13:28we have so many different cultures
- 13:13:32represented in our market.
- 13:13:33We have over 24 countries
- 13:13:35represented at our market.
- 13:13:37For me, food has always been a way to
- 13:13:40bring people together.
- 13:13:41Always.
- 13:13:42Whether that's your love of cooking, your
- 13:13:45love of gathering, you're experiencing
- 13:13:48something with your family,
- 13:13:49the market has that and you
- 13:13:51organically see that happen.
- 13:13:53You see people come down, you'll see a
- 13:13:54family come down, young ones with their
- 13:13:57grandparents, young
- 13:13:58ones with their parents.
- 13:14:00They're bringing their pets, they're
- 13:14:01bringing their kids.
- 13:14:02It's truly an experience.
- 13:14:04Or you see some young people coming from
- 13:14:07a workout class or they're going to a
- 13:14:08workout class that we have.
- 13:14:10They're coming down with their yoga mats,
- 13:14:11but they're coming to
- 13:14:13be a part of something.
- 13:14:15Not only is it the quality of our
- 13:14:16vendors, it's the customers.
- 13:14:19Our market is incredible because of the
- 13:14:21loyal customers that come out and they
- 13:14:23want to be a part of something bigger.
- 13:14:26This market, the world right here, it's
- 13:14:29our green market really
- 13:14:30has something for everyone.
- 13:14:32Not only is the audience diverse, we have
- 13:14:35a diverse group of
- 13:14:36products that are available.
- 13:14:38To be clear, it's not just, obviously,
- 13:14:41packaged goods or whatever.
- 13:14:42There is food that is being prepared on
- 13:14:44site that we're
- 13:14:46encouraging people to sample.
- 13:14:47Absolutely.
- 13:14:48I'll give you a good
- 13:14:48example. I'm Italian.
- 13:14:50Okay.
- 13:14:50Couldn't tell I talk with my hands.
- 13:14:53For me, you have olive oil, basic, right?
- 13:14:57Yeah.
- 13:14:58But we have a couple different people you
- 13:14:59can get olive oil from.
- 13:15:00I have some of my favorites.
- 13:15:01We have seasonings, different spices,
- 13:15:04salts, all things that I need.
- 13:15:07I can go down, I can
- 13:15:08get a burrata mozzarella.
- 13:15:11So incredible.
- 13:15:12Fresh, but you can't
- 13:15:15just overlook those things.
- 13:15:19Then I can go a booth
- 13:15:20down and I can get pasta.
- 13:15:22Sure.
- 13:15:23Fresh made pasta, frozen, so that you get
- 13:15:25to take it home with you.
- 13:15:26It's incredible.
- 13:15:27Realistically, our olive oil people and
- 13:15:29some of our other people
- 13:15:30have jarred sauces, homemade.
- 13:15:34Then you can go grab a loaf of bread.
- 13:15:36It really is an all
- 13:15:37you can do in one space.
- 13:15:40You can go over to Jerry's here from
- 13:15:41Fresh or Philindos and
- 13:15:43get some different basil,
- 13:15:46rosemary, all the things that you would
- 13:15:47need for a complete meal.
- 13:15:49And we have people that are selling
- 13:15:53produce or they're selling seafood or
- 13:15:56they're selling meat.
- 13:15:57It's all there.
- 13:15:59It's all there.
- 13:15:59So you don't have to
- 13:16:00go to a grocery store.
- 13:16:01You can shop local, which is the greatest
- 13:16:04thing about that market.
- 13:16:05It brings you fresh
- 13:16:06products in one space.
- 13:16:07Speaking of local, are these vendors
- 13:16:11regional in the form of
- 13:16:12the county or South Florida?
- 13:16:14Where do they come from?
- 13:16:15So ironically, yes, a lot
- 13:16:18of the vendors are local.
- 13:16:22We have a couple of merchants even that
- 13:16:24apply to be in our market.
- 13:16:25So we're very fortunate that our local
- 13:16:28literal of downtown
- 13:16:30residents and merchants,
- 13:16:31they are wanting to be part of it.
- 13:16:33That's great.
- 13:16:33But they're coming from Miami.
- 13:16:35Some of them drive across the state.
- 13:16:38It really is part of their livelihood.
- 13:16:40And a lot of these businesses started at
- 13:16:43our market and now they
- 13:16:44have brick and mortar,
- 13:16:45which is really amazing to see.
- 13:16:47Fantastic.
- 13:16:47One of the vendors that started with us
- 13:16:49last year that got in, he literally just
- 13:16:51opened up a bakery out in Royal Palm.
- 13:16:53So like that's what you
- 13:16:55want to see them grow into.
- 13:16:56Yeah.
- 13:16:57And hopefully they stay with us, but we
- 13:16:58understand that they've grown
- 13:17:00to the size that they can't.
- 13:17:01I think it's fascinating to hear that
- 13:17:03you're seeing vendors
- 13:17:04driving across state,
- 13:17:05undoubtedly driving past other green
- 13:17:09markets to get to here.
- 13:17:11So that's pretty cool.
- 13:17:12Say if I'm just visiting the area, I'm in
- 13:17:14a hotel room, I'm not planning to cook.
- 13:17:17Is there something at
- 13:17:17the green market for me?
- 13:17:18Well, fun fact.
- 13:17:20And just another, I like to talk about
- 13:17:22our merchants downtown.
- 13:17:23The Ben does a really cool thing.
- 13:17:28They shop at the market and bring it back
- 13:17:30and the chef will prepare something with
- 13:17:32the ingredients that you made.
- 13:17:33That's right.
- 13:17:33That you're buying and he'll just do it
- 13:17:36and you can get it right there.
- 13:17:37So say you go buy this perfect fish and
- 13:17:39you go get some other seasonings and
- 13:17:41herbs that you want with it,
- 13:17:42buy some pasta or a different grain, you
- 13:17:45bring it back and the chef will prepare
- 13:17:47it for you, which is really cool.
- 13:17:49That's right.
- 13:17:49But yeah, you know, everybody, I'm so
- 13:17:53grateful that most businesses around
- 13:17:56here, hotels including,
- 13:17:57they love our market.
- 13:17:59As a matter of fact, one of our sponsors
- 13:18:00is the food tour, Palm Beach Food Tour.
- 13:18:03And they do a tour
- 13:18:05specifically to our market.
- 13:18:06So it highlights different vendors on the
- 13:18:08tours and they change
- 13:18:09it up to be inclusive.
- 13:18:12But so if you're not sure how you want to
- 13:18:14take on the market, that's
- 13:18:15always a great way to start too,
- 13:18:16because then you get a
- 13:18:17little bit of a lot of things.
- 13:18:19But if you are staying in a local hotel,
- 13:18:24we now have move that
- 13:18:26goes around the city.
- 13:18:27That's right.
- 13:18:27West Palm Beach, you
- 13:18:28know, so that's really cool.
- 13:18:29And we experienced that
- 13:18:30firsthand, the first market.
- 13:18:33Somebody was literally, we were helping
- 13:18:34them get to where they
- 13:18:35needed to be for a pickup.
- 13:18:36But we're seeing so many different
- 13:18:39methods and we have a bike valet.
- 13:18:40So get on your bike, come down.
- 13:18:44That's tremendous.
- 13:18:46And actually that brings me to the real
- 13:18:47one of the questions I wanted to sort of
- 13:18:49put here on the table.
- 13:18:51Obviously, we have a great deal of
- 13:18:53experience here, knowing how to get the
- 13:18:55very most out of the green market.
- 13:18:58Imagine that we have someone who's just
- 13:18:59thinking about coming
- 13:19:00here for the very first time.
- 13:19:02What are you going to tell them?
- 13:19:04Well, I say a lot of different things.
- 13:19:05There are so many ways
- 13:19:06to get to the market.
- 13:19:07The important thing is get there.
- 13:19:09Get there early.
- 13:19:10It opens at 830.
- 13:19:11Early.
- 13:19:11Be there when it opens because it's a
- 13:19:13little less crowded at 830.
- 13:19:16But it's such a great experience too.
- 13:19:19You see all these people that are smiling
- 13:19:22and they want to be pleasant.
- 13:19:23And on top of that, not only do we have
- 13:19:27our green market, but we have the antique
- 13:19:29and flea market as well.
- 13:19:30So you have four blocks of shopping,
- 13:19:32which really is a lot.
- 13:19:34And they have the
- 13:19:35things that we don't have.
- 13:19:36So they've got clothing, jewelry and
- 13:19:38stuff like that that we
- 13:19:39don't let in our market.
- 13:19:42So it's a great compliment.
- 13:19:44But if you're coming for the first time,
- 13:19:46obviously do your homework.
- 13:19:48But you can get here by Brightline.
- 13:19:49You can get here by Tri-Rail.
- 13:19:51You can get here by the bus.
- 13:19:52You can get here, you know, on feet.
- 13:19:54Sure.
- 13:19:55On a car.
- 13:19:55In a car.
- 13:19:56And there is parking.
- 13:19:58There's ample parking.
- 13:19:59Our garages are amazing.
- 13:20:01If you City Hall and down to Sapodilla
- 13:20:05are free, the garages are free.
- 13:20:07If you get in during the market hours.
- 13:20:08Avernia and Banyan,
- 13:20:10there's a $5 flat rate charge.
- 13:20:12But it keeps things
- 13:20:13moving through the market.
- 13:20:15It allows customers to be able to get in.
- 13:20:17And, you know, for those that know what
- 13:20:18they're coming for,
- 13:20:19they get in, they get out.
- 13:20:20They park at Banyan or Avernia.
- 13:20:21They get their stuff.
- 13:20:23And a lot of times these are vendors.
- 13:20:25They take orders.
- 13:20:25So they know their customers are coming.
- 13:20:27They've got their orders ready for them
- 13:20:29so they can literally swoop in, get the
- 13:20:31things that they need and get out.
- 13:20:32But it's also a place where
- 13:20:34you can just sort of hang out.
- 13:20:35Oh, my gosh. You'd be crazy not to.
- 13:20:37So the Great Long, we have
- 13:20:39entertainment every week.
- 13:20:40So we've got, you
- 13:20:41know, a one man ban per se.
- 13:20:44And it's just it's a great experience.
- 13:20:46And starting in November, our chef
- 13:20:48showcase starts up
- 13:20:49again, which is really cool.
- 13:20:51But so do our workshops.
- 13:20:52Tell us a little bit about that.
- 13:20:53What exactly is that?
- 13:20:54So this is our third year that we're
- 13:20:56going into with the Green Market
- 13:20:58MasterChef Showcase.
- 13:20:59And we do calling all chefs.
- 13:21:02If you think what you got,
- 13:21:03what it takes to compete.
- 13:21:04And let me tell you,
- 13:21:05these judges are really good.
- 13:21:06You know, come out and
- 13:21:08show us what you got.
- 13:21:10It's again, I have a food
- 13:21:11and beverage background.
- 13:21:12So when I watch these people,
- 13:21:14they're out in the elements.
- 13:21:15They're under a tent and
- 13:21:16they're cooking with temporary.
- 13:21:18Sure.
- 13:21:19There's not a stove. There's not a.
- 13:21:20There are some challenges.
- 13:21:21You know, but we provide them all.
- 13:21:24They're just not as accessible as that
- 13:21:26kitchen that they're used to.
- 13:21:27Right.
- 13:21:28But some of the dishes that come out and
- 13:21:29the talented chefs that
- 13:21:31compete really is remarkable.
- 13:21:33And I'm so excited to be
- 13:21:35part of that every year.
- 13:21:35It's got to be so much fun to watch that.
- 13:21:37It is.
- 13:21:38You know, we do our own little flair and
- 13:21:40this year we're going to
- 13:21:40be doing it on different
- 13:21:41countries.
- 13:21:42So it'll be around there.
- 13:21:44And then the market, the ingredients you
- 13:21:46can find at the market.
- 13:21:47Sure.
- 13:21:47And then the workshops, again, we realize
- 13:21:49that health and
- 13:21:50wellness really is important
- 13:21:51to people.
- 13:21:52So we have different
- 13:21:53workout classes that you can take.
- 13:21:55You can catch a
- 13:21:56Pilates class, a yoga class.
- 13:21:58We're going to be working with the Cold
- 13:21:59Collective to bring
- 13:22:00some of those down as well.
- 13:22:01That's neat.
- 13:22:02Or you can catch a paint and sip.
- 13:22:03So really, I mean, obviously if you're
- 13:22:06there for a mission and
- 13:22:07you're going to be grabbing
- 13:22:08certain, very specific, beautiful
- 13:22:10ingredients for
- 13:22:12preparation for later on the day, you
- 13:22:13can be in and out very quickly.
- 13:22:15Yep.
- 13:22:15But we're also saying that if
- 13:22:17you want, show up and enjoy.
- 13:22:20Absolutely.
- 13:22:20Is it a day?
- 13:22:21Is it a day?
- 13:22:22Oh, 100 percent you can make a day of it.
- 13:22:24And I say this all the time, come down
- 13:22:25early and walk your
- 13:22:28way through the market.
- 13:22:28Take your time.
- 13:22:29You will see something different every
- 13:22:31time that you didn't realize was there.
- 13:22:33And it's amazing.
- 13:22:34And I often do it because you take for
- 13:22:37granted the vendors that are there.
- 13:22:40But take the time because they'll share
- 13:22:42their story with you.
- 13:22:43And when they share that story with you,
- 13:22:46you learn about how
- 13:22:47their process is and why they
- 13:22:49do the things they do.
- 13:22:50And the passion is just incredible that
- 13:22:53they have for the
- 13:22:54products that they are giving
- 13:22:56you.
- 13:22:57And it's the stories that I love so much
- 13:23:00when somebody says, well,
- 13:23:01when I was a little girl,
- 13:23:02you know, my grandma used to make this.
- 13:23:04Or, you know, I was suffering from this,
- 13:23:07so I thought there had
- 13:23:07to be a better way to
- 13:23:09deal with this.
- 13:23:10And, you know, when you hear their
- 13:23:12personal stories on why
- 13:23:14they got involved to begin
- 13:23:15with, it changes your
- 13:23:16whole perspective on things.
- 13:23:18And that's what makes
- 13:23:20our market so unique.
- 13:23:22It's the vendors.
- 13:23:23It's the customer.
- 13:23:24It's the interaction.
- 13:23:25It's our waterfront.
- 13:23:26Really, like we are on the intercoastal,
- 13:23:29which you can literally
- 13:23:30go buy prepared foods,
- 13:23:32sit in the great lawn, listen to music,
- 13:23:35and enjoy a mimosa if you want to.
- 13:23:37And the beautiful sky at that time of
- 13:23:39morning, especially if you
- 13:23:40get there early, it's just
- 13:23:42amazing.
- 13:23:42It's a beautiful, beautiful place just to
- 13:23:44sort of breathe and enjoy the environment
- 13:23:47and all that.
- 13:23:47I remember one of the very first times
- 13:23:49that I had the
- 13:23:50opportunity to go down there, it
- 13:23:51was actually for an assignment, a
- 13:23:52professional assignment.
- 13:23:54They handed me a camera and said, "Go
- 13:23:56down to the green market
- 13:23:58and do an essay on dogs."
- 13:24:00Oh, yeah.
- 13:24:01And I said to myself,
- 13:24:03"Okay, let me do that."
- 13:24:05And I'm hoping there's going to be a dog.
- 13:24:07Oh, there's lots of dogs.
- 13:24:08I was very surprised to find out that it
- 13:24:11is a mecca for people
- 13:24:13to bring their dogs.
- 13:24:14Tell us a little bit about that.
- 13:24:15Yeah, so, you know, it's interesting
- 13:24:17because from an event
- 13:24:18perspective, that's always
- 13:24:19like a chaos.
- 13:24:20But it's a controlled
- 13:24:21chaos with the green market.
- 13:24:23We welcome dogs.
- 13:24:24And I laugh sometimes because you see as
- 13:24:26many strollers with
- 13:24:27dogs as you do children, or
- 13:24:30dogs and children in the same stroller.
- 13:24:31Yeah.
- 13:24:32But, you know, we have pet vendors.
- 13:24:34We have a lot of dog vendors that do
- 13:24:37treats and natural foods.
- 13:24:38So I think that makes it even more so why
- 13:24:41people come to the
- 13:24:42market because you can get
- 13:24:43great food for your pet and, you know,
- 13:24:46that's your fur baby.
- 13:24:47Mm-hmm.
- 13:24:47Why would you go anywhere else?
- 13:24:48Like why would you buy canned stuff or
- 13:24:50bag stuff from a store
- 13:24:51where you can get them
- 13:24:52the best of the best?
- 13:24:53Sure.
- 13:24:53And we take it one step further because
- 13:24:55we have incredible
- 13:24:56sponsors and one of them is
- 13:24:59Land Rover.
- 13:25:00And we do Rovers in the Park where we get
- 13:25:03together with like 13
- 13:25:04different not-for-profits
- 13:25:07and we do a doggy fashion show and we
- 13:25:10hope that these little
- 13:25:11fur babies get adopted.
- 13:25:12And last year there were, I think, 20
- 13:25:15confirmed adoptions out of that one day.
- 13:25:18That's fantastic.
- 13:25:18That's great. So we try to use what
- 13:25:19we've got to make it extra.
- 13:25:22Yeah.
- 13:25:22And I think that's really
- 13:25:23what the market is about, extra.
- 13:25:25And if I'm boasting about the market, I
- 13:25:28just got back from IFEA,
- 13:25:30which is the International
- 13:25:31Festivals and Events Association, and
- 13:25:34people, we are joined by
- 13:25:36people from all over the
- 13:25:37world.
- 13:25:38Japan, Korea, Canada, all over.
- 13:25:43And I just named a few.
- 13:25:44But my point is, is we came home and I
- 13:25:48was very, very proud of
- 13:25:50what our team accomplished.
- 13:25:51But the most that I can say I'm so proud
- 13:25:55of is we took a silver
- 13:25:57in the Grand Pinnacle.
- 13:25:58And that is the highest recognition you
- 13:26:00can get from an award
- 13:26:02that's recognized internationally
- 13:26:05and it was on the green market.
- 13:26:07So congratulations.
- 13:26:08Thank you.
- 13:26:09It's wonderful.
- 13:26:09I'm so proud of my team and
- 13:26:10the work that goes into that.
- 13:26:12But to be recognized on
- 13:26:13an international level.
- 13:26:14It's a world stage.
- 13:26:15It is.
- 13:26:16Wow.
- 13:26:17And couple it off with the fact that we
- 13:26:19are rated number one.
- 13:26:21I can't rank number one.
- 13:26:23I could talk for days about the market
- 13:26:28and the different vendors.
- 13:26:29There's just so much that goes into it.
- 13:26:33But it's a labor of love.
- 13:26:34Sure.
- 13:26:34Sure.
- 13:26:35And the results of that
- 13:26:38labor is very, very clear.
- 13:26:40You've been involved for decades and your
- 13:26:42team has been involved
- 13:26:44all year round getting
- 13:26:46ready for this event.
- 13:26:47So it is clearly something that a lot of
- 13:26:49work has gone into, but the work shows.
- 13:26:52It is an experience for anybody to go
- 13:26:55down there and truly
- 13:26:56just enjoy the environment.
- 13:26:58It is a beautiful time of the year to be
- 13:27:00down there on a Saturday morning.
- 13:27:02There are people talking.
- 13:27:04There are people laughing.
- 13:27:05There are dogs having a blast.
- 13:27:07There's a beautiful
- 13:27:08scent of food in the air.
- 13:27:10And it's an experience that everyone
- 13:27:13should really take
- 13:27:14advantage of and be a part of.
- 13:27:17And the fact that you have been
- 13:27:18recognized on a global stage
- 13:27:21for what's being done here.
- 13:27:22Excited.
- 13:27:22That's, I mean, you got to go.
- 13:27:25You have to go down
- 13:27:26there and take advantage.
- 13:27:27And the biggest thing that I can
- 13:27:29encourage people to do
- 13:27:30is come more than once.
- 13:27:32And when you come each
- 13:27:34time, try something new.
- 13:27:36Because a lot of times you get in the
- 13:27:37habit of eating the same
- 13:27:39thing or going to the same
- 13:27:41place.
- 13:27:41Yeah.
- 13:27:42And just have that conversation.
- 13:27:46They want to talk to you.
- 13:27:47They want to share, but like, you know,
- 13:27:48get that guacamole that
- 13:27:49you're like, "Oh yeah,
- 13:27:50next time I'll do that."
- 13:27:51Buy a plant.
- 13:27:52They'll tell you how to take care of it.
- 13:27:54And if not, guess what?
- 13:27:55We got a workshop on that.
- 13:27:58But yeah, come down, try new things and
- 13:28:00just experience the world right here.
- 13:28:02Let's talk a little bit about workshops
- 13:28:03and special presentations.
- 13:28:04I know you guys work very hard to fill
- 13:28:07the calendar of 2027 with
- 13:28:09all sorts of cool stuff.
- 13:28:10Tell us a little bit
- 13:28:11about what you got coming up.
- 13:28:12Yeah.
- 13:28:12So we've got, and like I said, the Chef
- 13:28:15Showcase starts up in November.
- 13:28:17We're doing six of those.
- 13:28:18So at the end of the
- 13:28:20six, we will have a winner.
- 13:28:22We have health and wellness workshops.
- 13:28:24We've got paint and sips.
- 13:28:25There's different things on gardening, on
- 13:28:28how you can do tips for gardening.
- 13:28:31We did our wine workshops for such a big
- 13:28:33hit that we were doing those.
- 13:28:35Obviously, we're going to go after
- 13:28:37different regions
- 13:28:38because that would make sense.
- 13:28:39And I think we even have a
- 13:28:40beer and bites scheduled as well.
- 13:28:42But there's always unique opportunities
- 13:28:45to learn a new thing
- 13:28:46or, you know, you've got
- 13:28:47someone in town or your girlfriend's
- 13:28:49decided to get together.
- 13:28:50Heck, I see a lot of people
- 13:28:52taking dates on these workshops.
- 13:28:54The woman has gotten a man to where she
- 13:28:56got him to go to a
- 13:28:57paint and sip and I makes my
- 13:28:59crowd when I see that.
- 13:29:01But it's a lot of fun to do together.
- 13:29:04Or if you've got no plans on a Saturday,
- 13:29:08look to see what we've got going on.
- 13:29:09Sign up for a workshop.
- 13:29:10Do it by yourself.
- 13:29:12They're a lot of fun and you'll get
- 13:29:13something out of it.
- 13:29:14Where can people find
- 13:29:15out the schedule of events?
- 13:29:16So always wpb.org
- 13:29:18forward slash green market.
- 13:29:21We have everything you could need to know
- 13:29:23about the market on that page.
- 13:29:26It'll help you even with navigating.
- 13:29:28You know, it'll take you to the parking
- 13:29:29pages so that you know
- 13:29:30where to go for parking garages.
- 13:29:33But everything is right there and it
- 13:29:35tells you everything you need to know.
- 13:29:37wpb.org front slash green market.
- 13:29:40Absolutely.
- 13:29:41And it tells you all our vendors too.
- 13:29:43Oh, so if you want to do a sneak peek
- 13:29:45because I like to do my
- 13:29:46homework before I go places.
- 13:29:47And I'm like, I start to set up where
- 13:29:50they go and, you know,
- 13:29:51and it's it looks to be
- 13:29:55a record year for an amazing event that
- 13:29:58has been recognized on a global stage.
- 13:30:00I mean, you can't beat it.
- 13:30:01You got to take advantage of going down
- 13:30:03to the to the green
- 13:30:04market during the season
- 13:30:05and enjoying how long does it run?
- 13:30:07It goes to May 22nd.
- 13:30:09Oh, OK.
- 13:30:10So we're taking that
- 13:30:11last week off in May.
- 13:30:12Right.
- 13:30:13But, you know, it does go all the way and
- 13:30:15we only have two breaks for two different
- 13:30:18festivals that are going on.
- 13:30:20So it essentially is now through
- 13:30:23basically almost the
- 13:30:24beginning of summer next year.
- 13:30:25Yes.
- 13:30:26Wow.
- 13:30:27Well, people should go and
- 13:30:29go often because I hope so.
- 13:30:31Yeah. Very special event.
- 13:30:32Absolutely.
- 13:30:33Your team works so hard all
- 13:30:35year long to make this real.
- 13:30:37And all the other things you guys do, you
- 13:30:39bring color and you
- 13:30:41bring energy to this town.
- 13:30:42And we very much appreciate
- 13:30:44and thank you for what you do.
- 13:30:45Thank you.
- 13:30:45We're hoping that we're making memories
- 13:30:47for people that they're
- 13:30:48having a great experience.
- 13:30:49And, you know, you never know
- 13:30:51what people are going through.
- 13:30:53And sometimes just coming down and being
- 13:30:55there, being present for them takes a
- 13:30:58huge weight off their shoulders.
- 13:30:59And that's what we're hoping that we're
- 13:31:01giving them a break.
- 13:31:02Just a little break.
- 13:31:03Indeed.
- 13:31:03So thank you.
- 13:31:04Thank you for having me.
- 13:31:07And thank you for joining us.
- 13:31:09Inside West Palm Beach is a production of
- 13:31:11the City of West Palm Beach
- 13:31:12Communications Department.
- 13:31:14I'm Jerry Marcello.
- 13:31:15We'll see you next time.