Still in the testing phase, the Farmers’ Market in front of the Visitor Centre/CN Museum is drawing fairly large crowds each Thursday.
An initiative of Jo-Anne Sigurdson, the community development officer, the first market was held on July 23. There is no charge for vendors but they must pre-book so that a tent can be set up. Eleven booths were set up by vendors for the first week and there have been a couple fewer in the next two weeks.
Initially, the markets were held from noon to 4 p.m. but because there were so many customers coming before the vendors were finished setting up, the time was changed to 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., said Candace Doogan, who has been at all three markets.
The food/baking vendors have been selling out, she said. Doogan has been selling baking as a means to promoting her catering business. Each week, she has sold out before the end of the time allotted.
It is not just the local people who have been good customers, Doogan said. Many have been coming in from the lakes and the construction crews and CN workers have been loyal customers. The location is ideal.
Even at this early stage, it is obvious that every week, the customers will find something different, she said. By the third market, there was fresh garden produce which was not available at earlier markets. In the next few weeks, there will be a lot more garden produce offered.
A good example of how the market evolves, Doogan said the 50-Plus Group from Buchanan had attended to display their arts and crafts. They were meant to just be for display but customers wanted to know how much it would cost to buy them. The next sale, the same group had its arts and crafts all priced for sale.
To make this project happen, the town purchased a few tents and the Crossroads Credit Union sponsored the purchase of a few more. It total, there are 14 tents available.
The town workmen have been wonderful in setting up the tents for each market, said Doogan. After each market, the town workmen take down the tents and put them into storage.
The Farmers’ Market is still in a trial period to determine how it should evolve, said Doogan. The plan is to keep going until the end of September and then analyze what options are available.
