WARM RETURN FOR NIAGARA FALLS FARMERS MARKET

SATURDAY MORNING STAPLE SETTLES INTO FINAL SEASON AT MACBAIN COMMUNITY CENTRE

It was sunshine and blue skies on Saturday as the Niagara Falls Farmers

Market returned for a new season.

For the third year — and organizers are hoping its final one in the current location — the market returned to the parking lot outside of the MacBain Community Centre on Montrose Road. A large number of vendors were on hand, offering up fresh produce currently in season, as well as several booths offering prepared food, pastries and artisan items such as candles, purses and crystals.

"It feels amazing to be back," said Janet Zylstra, market co-ordinator. "(It's nice) to see all of the clientele base we've built up over the years and amazing to see all of their faces we haven't seen over the winter."

Zylstra said they're still on the lookout for a few farmers and producers, noting that they try to have a balance between vendors with 50 per cent being farmers, 20 per cent being food vendors, 20 per cent artisanal vendors and 10 spots for bakers.

After two seasons where they had to turn vendors away because of COVID-19 restrictions in place, Zylstra said they're waiting on them to come back.

"We're still close to capacity, but response was a little bit slower this year," she said.

One thing that hasn't waned? The volunteers.

"it's nice to see that people are still coming out to help and join in the fun," she said.

Niagara Falls Public Library had a tent set up at the grand opening and they were running crafts with kids, as well as giving away free plants to visitors. The library tent features free Wi-Fi for visitors and will be having crafts once a month.

The market is held on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The season runs until Oct. 29. Zylstra said they'll have live music returning to the market soon and they plan to do traditional events celebrating produce as it comes into season.

This is planned to be the last season in the parking lot. Next season, the plans are for it to move to the Niagara Falls Exchange. The new cultural hub and market is meant to serve as the cultural and social hub of the city.