LOCAL FOOD: Buyers were drawn to farmers’ market We’ve had a lot of interest from different vendors in the area. The nice weather has been attracting a lot of youth to come out as well, because they come out with parents or grandparents.”
Spring weather was the attraction
WELLAND — Spring fever is in the air.
Although Saturday’s rain ended the region’s unseasonably warm streak, many people and vendors have already started to venture to the Welland Farmers’ Market.
Jessica Christopher, the municipality’s arts and culture co- ordinator, said the market is at capacity right now, with 65 vendors, although not all of them have begun coming on a regular basis.
“We’ve had a lot of interest from different market vendors in the area,” she said. “The nice weather has been attracting a lot of youth to come out as well because they come out with parents or grandparents, which is great.”
At some point this summer, the market plans to set up another pavilion and expand its vendor capacity to add a little more variety to the market.
Jessica Christopher
Ward 3 Coun. Dan Fortier credits the market advisory council and Christopher’s new programming for helping to bring more crowds to the market.
“They understand what people want and they’re trying to give it to them by bringing new and more vendors,” he said.
“Last weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day event brought out a lot of youth. It was amazing.”
Chris Wilcox, who frequents the market, said that the nice weather seems to bring the community together, adding people are happier and, since the variety of vendors isn’t what it is in the summer, the products are always different.
“We never know what to expect, but we always find what we want,” he said.
Jen Hooiveld said the unseasonably warm weather brings people out of hibernation early.
“You see neighbours you haven’t talked to all winter,” she said.
Andrew Scherle, owner of Market Chef and Bistro, said he has seen more vendors and he has spotted many who usually don’t come out early in the season to see if there are enough people attending the market for them to set up their stalls.
“I figured since the weather was so nice there would be lots of people here, so I tried to set myself up today,” he said. victoria. gray@ sunmedia. ca Twitter: @ Vixeyg