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Niagara Falls
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Farmers’ market opening weekend a success

Niagara-on-the-Lake Farmers’ Market staff, vendors and customers experienced the first “physically distancing” market day on Saturday, May 23.  

Adapting the market included limiting the number of customers and vendors walking through the market, a hand sanitizing station at the entrance and a reimagined product set up. 

“We didn't know what to expect but we had a lot of our regulars coming out and showing us support so it was great,” market co-ordinator Sharon Brinsmead-Taylor said. 

“I’ve talked to a few of my vendors about what they felt in their sales,” she said. 

“A couple of them said that their sales were right on par with prior year opening days and a couple of them actually said that their sales were better than prior years, so I think all in all it was pretty successful. 

It was also nice to see so many familiar faces, she said.

Farmers’ market regular Margaret Walker said she is glad to see it  open again. 

“I’m so, so happy,” Walker said. 

“It’s so nice to see some of the vendors back and see some of the people and just to say hello and be out.” 

Walker said the process set up for the adapted farmers’ market works out nicely, but you have to be patient.  

Brinsmead-Taylor said she anticipated the first week to be a bit of a learning curve for both the market staff and vendors. She said no major changes are needed to the new set up, just a few tweaks here and there to help things run smoothly. 

“Being out there, in an outdoor setting, we're all kind of used to flying by the seat of our pants and making adjustments as needed,” she said. “So I think it was a good first day.” 

Market staff said comments from the shoppers who came out were all really positive. 

“From a market standpoint, vendor standpoint and customer standpoint I think everybody was pretty happy with the way things went,” Brinsmead-Taylor said. 

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