About
Our Vision
We imagine a thriving local food system in Belknap County, where locally raised, grown, and produced food is available and accessible to anyone at any time, at prices that are reasonable for customers and sustainable for producers.
Our Mission
Our goal is to help local farms and food producers succeed by providing well-run farmers markets, educational opportunities, and advocacy, while supporting local crafters and small businesses in a community-oriented environment.
The Who and Why of BAMM
BAMM (short for Belknap Area Market Management) is run by Paul Gareau, owner of Arándano Farm in Belmont, NH. His wife Angela owns Gluten Free or Die Bakery. Both businesses got their start at local farmers markets, and Paul and Angela quickly realized how important they are to the success of small food-related businesses. What started as a conversation about strong markets back in 2021, turned into a list, which turned into an idea, which evolved into what BAMM has become today.
BAMM is More than Markets
Markets are one of the best ways for small farms and food producers to get established, and a great way for established businesses to try new products and receive direct feedback from customers. Markets are just one part of a thriving local food system however, and it takes more than well-run markets for small businesses to be successful.
Other ways we help:
Support We help vendors navigate the laws and regulations that apply to their products.
Education Both directly and through partnerships with UNH, we help farms and food-related businesses to be more successful financially and to produce the safest food possible.
Advocacy When startup producers are ready to start selling wholesale, we'll help with that transition by working directly with them and local retailers to price products in a way that works best for everyone.
Company Structure
BAMM is structured as a benefit corporation - essentially a privately owned business with the obligation to provide a general public benefit, always considering the broader consequences of its decisions and prioritizing people and planet over profit.
Our goal is to build a strong board of directors and transition to a nonprofit structure by year two or three of operation. Until that time, the organization will function financially as a nonprofit, paying reasonable salaries to employees and reinvesting all profits in support of our mission.
Collaborators and Partners
We can't do what we do on our own. Here are some of the organizations supporting our mission.
