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 Salmon Arm Farmers Market (previously the Shuswap Farm and Craft Market) and the Westgate Public 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.
Now known as the Salmon Arm Farmers Market it will be start on April 28 and will be open Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“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.
Information about the farmers market is available at www.safm.ca.
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 Public Market.
Westgate is a commercial/retail development with stalls available for small businesses to lease. It will be open seven days a week when it launches this summer.
Businesses interested in leasing a stall can visit www.westgatepublicmarket.com
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.