New Downtown Farmers Market Doing Well

In a "State of the Farmers Market" report for the Town Council, Vice President Deborah Hooker says the Market, which just passed the midway point of its first year, is getting stronger financially and seems to be meeting all of its major goals—including its top goal of providing farm-fresh food to Clayton residents.

The number of vendors is up to 15 and includes craftspeople, bakers and a "very popular" honey vendor, the report says.

Hooker says the Market is also meeting a very important secondary goal—community-building.

"The Farm and Community Market provides a regular, public, downtown venue every Saturday throughout its market season," Hooker said. "People come out—they bring their children, their dogs, their elderly parents. Last Saturday, for example, over 200 people passed through the market and those people get to know the vendors who grow their food, make their bread, tend the hives that make their honey or who produce the one-of-a-kind craft items. They also get to know each other."

Efforts by the Market Board to secure grants to help with infrastructure have met with little success so far, Hooker said, but leaders are hopeful that their chances will improve once the Market moves from its temporary home on Town Square to a permanent spot at the planned "Downtown Centerpiece" at the corner of Lombard and Main Streets.

The report got a warm reception from town leaders, including Councilman Michael Grannis, who praised Market organizers for doing "an incredible job."

The Farmers Market, which opened in April, will likely remain a Saturday morning "hot spot" through October.