New Hampton Farmers Market to have new look

New Hampton's Farmers Market will not only change its hours next summer but it's also switching days and moving to a new location.

The changes were announced last week by a five-member committee that will run the market next summer after Market Manager LaVonne Zimmerman said she wouldn't return in the summer of 2012.

Committee members say their hope is that the changes — moving the market from Saturday mornings to Thursday evening and relocating the market to the new Car Quest store (the former New Hampton Family Foods) parking lot — will spark renewed interest from both sellers and buyers.

"It's gotten pretty small in recent years," said committee member Rick Kramer, the director of the New Hampton Parks and Recreation Department that will serve as the "base" for the new Farmers Market. "We think there's interest in having one here, we just need to find the right combination to get more vendors and buyers."

Other members of the committee include Suellen Kolbet, Tammy Robinson, Mary Prouty and Joanne Tupper.

The key, they believe, to growing the Farmers Market is attracting vendors. In recent years, the Saturday morning Farmers Market had what Kramer called a small number of vendors.

"It's one reason we're getting the word out now is because people order their seeds and start planning for next summer now," Kramer said. "We want any potential vendors to know that there will be a market this summer."

Although the new market will include homegrown produce and baked items, it will also be open to crafters, as along as the crafts are handmade.

Source:  New Hampton Tribune, 12/2/11

Tag: foodsytems