A busier South Bend Farmer's Market is on the horizon. The century-old city staple received $100,000 in federal funding to cultivate its growth and evolution.

And its goal to bring more people to the market is working. For the last six months, the Farmer’s Market has been at, or over vendor capacity every Saturday.

The grant itself has been kept under wraps for some time now. The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the money last fall.

Since then, behind-the-scenes work has been taking place, but there are exciting new announcements in the wings.

Two board members took the initiative to apply for the grant, Jill DeLoddere and Ann Kimmell.

“We’re just so excited about our future,” said Ann Kimmell, Board Member, South Bend Farmer’s Market.

The majority of the money will go toward marketing, in an attempt to bring new vendors into the mix.

“We’ve had this amazing response,” said Kimmell.

“The more customers there are, the better we do; we kind of hold each other up,” said Susan Siemers, owner, Ceres.

Another goal is to attract new customers.

“Bring in low-income and low-access people, so people in food deserts have the opportunity to come to our market,” said Kimmell.

“We've got to teach these families how to feed their children really healthy, and organically is the best way to go,” said Brenda Condon, Richert/ Phillips Farms.

The market is unique in offering one-on-one interaction you can't get in a grocery store.

“If you come and by produce from stall 50, the person standing behind stall 50 is a farmer, that is the person who produced your food,” said Kimmell.

“I want to help people to eat healthy and that's why I produce these baked goods that are different from the everyday baked goods,” said Naomi Weekes, owner, Bread 4 Life.

Quality food for lower prices.

“You know, you can get really good deals here,” said Diana Vite, Vite’s Produce.

The Farmer's Market also accepts certain supplemental nutrition plans.

“If you have EBT we provide our own gift certificates that you can use,” said Kimmell.

That's called SNAP, but the market also has its own WIC program for women, infants and children.

“Everybody in the community deserves to have fresh, local, healthy food,” said Kimmell.

Keeping history alive for generations to come.

“We are just excited to be a part of it and to grow and to evolve with the community,” said Kimmell.

Attracting new vendors and customers is justone phase of the project. The second phase is executing transportation logistics; getting low-income folks to the market.

Kimmell says they're working with Transpo, and hopefully in the next year will add bus stops that would make getting to and from the market more convenient.