While various vendors—particularly Lowey’s Greehouse—have been on site since mid-March, the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market hasn’t officially opened its doors yet for the season.
That will all change this Saturday.
“We’ll be starting our 18th year,” said Deb Cornell, who manages the farmers’ market along with Pat Clysdale-Cornell.
She noted the market began as a group of merchants gathered at the A&W parking lot for two years, then grew in numbers to sell their wares at Couchiching First Nation for three more.
It’s now their 13th year at the current site, located on McIrvine Road just north of Canadian Tire.
This week’s theme is “Bulk Maple Syrup Day” (patrons are urged to bring your old containers). Scrapbooking material also will be on display there as May 4 is National Scrapbooking Day.
Next week, Mother’s Day will be in focus, followed by perennials and bedding plants for the rest of May.
The CVFM also will work to be part of the community, Cornell noted.
“We just had our annual meeting and we were kind of reviewing last year. One thing that came up was our ‘community connections.’
“Every week, we donate one space to a particular group. We had 25 different community groups last year,” she remarked.
Groups in the past have ranged from the Fort Frances Fire Department (with safety displays) and the Rainy River Valley Field Naturalists (with African millipedes) to service clubs selling raffle tickets.
Any community group interested in being in the spotlight for a Saturday can talk to either Cornell or Clysdale-Cornell at the farmers’ market.
The CVFM is open every week from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. until it closes for the season on the last Saturday in October.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
