As the growing season gets underway, area farmers prepare to get their produce to market.
This year, shoppers will have the option of shopping at four local markets – the Shuswap Farm and Craft Market and the Westgate Market that operate at Westgate Mall, the Wild Flight Farm All Organic Farmers Market that operates at Uptown Askew’s and the new Salmon Arm Community Market which will start up at Fifth Avenue and Fifth Street SW.
Following the November AGM, 20 of 25 members of the Shuswap Farm and Craft Market voted to move from their longtime location at Fifth and Fifth to Westgate Mall at the former Canadian Tire premises.
“We’re very excited,” says Sharon Bailey, president of the market, noting there wasn’t enough parking at the former location where the market, which operated Tuesday and Friday, interfered with Rainbow Glass and other businesses.
Bailey says more than 20 vendors have signed up for this year’s market, with applications from as far away as Vernon and Kelowna coming in almost daily.
The Shuswap Farm and Craft Market, which will open on Friday, April 28, will operate in its new outside space with the previous hours – Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Karen Dow and Chris White, who own The Handmade Shoppe and The Ugly Mug Bistro, are in the process of renting booths inside the building for their Westgate Market, which will operate on Saturdays and include small, home-based businesses. Anyone interested in participating in either market at Westgate can contact Dow at karen@safm.ca.
The new market happening in the old location at Fifth Avenue and Fifth Street SW, the Salmon Arm Community Market, will open on May 19 and run until Oct. 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays only. Co-ordinator Sue Washington says the market will feature fresh produce, handmade items and fresh baked goods.
Check out their Facebook page or contact salmonarmcommunitymarket@gmail.com.
The All Organic Farmers Market takes place every Wednesday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in the parking lot at Uptown Askew’s Foods.
Go to www.WildFlightFarm.ca for updates on vendors.
