Tending Community: Meet the Market Manager
By Perris Reed on May 12, 2026 from Tending Community
Some people might be wondering, “How did she get this job?”
Others probably see it as a natural evolution of what I’ve already devoted several years to, community.
Whether you know me from Oliverio's, the family business my grandparents started as a small restaurant in the 1960s, from Market on Main and the community of vendors and small businesses that made it what it was, or through Gather ’Round events and pop-up markets, those who know me know how deeply I love bringing people together.
I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer. I love the idea of helping create the kind of place you’d actually want to live in, places filled with healthy food, local creativity, music, conversation, and opportunities for people building something meaningful. While I spend my days organizing, facilitating, and guiding things along, the heart of the market has always been the vendors, farmers, artists, musicians, and community members who continue showing up and making it what it is. Any success I have as market manager is a reflection of them.
Back in 2024, there were a few casual conversations about me getting involved with the market. Nothing formal. My name had simply started coming up within the vendor community, and a seed was planted from there. Over time, that small conversation slowly evolved into what BFM2 is becoming today, fertile ground for connection, creativity, and community expansion, ground that was cultivated long before me, and ground I feel deeply humbled to now help tend.
What has always stood out to me are the people who continue showing up to build meaningful things here. We have so many resourceful, hardworking, genuine people in this community. Honestly, that’s what this market is really about, creating a space where those people can find each other.
In a world that feels increasingly chaotic and disconnected, community spaces like the Bridgeport Farmers & Makers Market become even more important. They remind us that life is not just about consumption or productivity. Sometimes life is simply about gathering.
I grew up watching my family cook in the restaurant, and spent just as much time in the kitchen with my Gram, my mom, and my great-grandmother. Cooking wasn’t rushed, it was culture, connection, and love.
Today, so much of our relationship with food feels hurried. We order groceries from our phones while multitasking through life. We consume constantly, but rarely feel nourished.
The market offers something different.
People come for healthy food, but what they’re really reconnecting with is the rhythm of gathering, music, conversation, neighbors, fresh air, and presence on a Sunday morning.
I know my own kids eat well because they are part of the process. They see where food comes from. That matters.
Our ancestors understood this rhythm naturally. Markets were woven into daily life, places of exchange, story, and connection. The market wasn’t separate from life, it was life.
That’s what we’re continuing to build at BFM2.
So my advice is simple, come to the market. Wander. Listen. Talk to a farmer. Let your kids participate. Grab lunch and stay awhile.
The rest tends to take care of itself.
You can also sign up for SMS updates at bridgeportfarmersmarket.com every Thursday.
We’ll see you Sunday.
Bridgeport Farmers & Makers Market (BFM2)
Sundays | May 17 – Oct. 11
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Located at Charles Pointe
100 Marketplace Ave, Bridgeport
About BMF2
About BMF2
The Bridgeport Farmers & Makers Market (BFM2) is a nonprofit community market in Bridgeport, West Virginia supporting local farmers, artisans, and small businesses. Held every Sunday from May 17, 2026 through October 11, 2026, the market provides a welcoming space where residents can shop local produce and handmade goods while enjoying community programming, family activities, and seasonal events.
