Sharbot Lake Farmers Market seeks new members

Jeff Green | Nov 20, 2014

The market is closed for the season and will not be back until late May, but it is never too early to plan ahead, according to interim manager Mary de Bassecourt.

“We want to start talking to gardeners now about how they can participate next year,” she said, in announcing that an information meeting for potential market vendors will be taking place on Wednesday, November 26, between 6:30 and 8 pm at the St. Lawrence College Employment Centre board room on Garrett Street in Sharbot Lake.

“We are hoping avid gardeners will come out, anyone who sometimes has more of some produce than they can eat during the summer and might want to sell some. We will also talk about how to make value-added products such as jams and baked goods from vegetables and fruit that people grow themselves,” she said.

The Sharbot Lake Farmers Market encourages people to try selling without committing to full membership. “We only charge $25 to try it out for one week, and vendors can do that up to three times without joining,” she said.

Full membership in the market is only $100, and the $25 per day is deductible if a vendor decides to join after trying it out, so the risk is minimal.

“Now is the time to start thinking about next year's garden,” said de Bassecourt, “and the market is always looking to encourage people to get involved, and to bring different kinds of products,” she said.

The three-year-old market enjoyed a fourth successful season in 2014. “Sales were down a little bit because of cold weather this summer,” said de Bassecourt, “but we have a good core of vendors and there is every reason to be optimistic for 2015. That's why we want to start talking to potential market vendors in the fall,” she said.

For more information, contact Mary at 613-375-6576.