After a fairly steady season at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market in Fort Frances, manager Deb Cornell is hoping this Saturday’s market—the final one of the season—will draw a lively crowd.
“We’ve got a lot planned—it’s going to be an exciting day,” she enthused.
Cornell said the day is dubbed “Customer Appreciation Day,” and will feature the Riverside Foundation for Health Care’s decorated pumpkin raffle.
Tickets cost $2 for 10 or $5 for 25, with the draw being made at 1 p.m.
There also will be a Market Café brunch on Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
“Our cook [Laura Godbout] has done a wonderful job,” Cornell said. “All season long she has purchased food from the market vendors and has made some wonderful stuff.”
In addition, Saturday’s market will have bulk honey and maple syrup available (bring your own container), as well as a haunted house, plenty of pumpkins, and lots of free draws and samples.
“Overall I’m pleased with how things have gone this year. Things are steady, but could have been livelier,” Cornell admitted. “There’s been a slow increase in local food available and a slow increase in the number of vendors.”
She added the local farmers’ market is going through somewhat of a transition period right now.
“As the community ages, there is less of an interest in the craft end of the market. Consequently, no one is making crafts,” Cornell said, noting in years past she had too many crafts.
“Now we need more crafters,” she remarked.
But Cornell said she’s also pleased with the more recent interest in foods produced in Rainy River District.
“There’s a growing interest in local food and what is in their foods,” she noted. “People want to know more about what they are eating and they can learn that from the vendors here.”
Josh Phillips, the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market agri-food marketing intern, has been a big help with some of the local foods initiatives, such as the monthly “Healthy Living Food Box” program, the recent harvest dinner, and planning for a community garden.
“We always have new ideas, but don’t have the time to carry them out. Josh was able to help put some of the ideas in motion,” Cornell noted.
“He’s a real ‘foody’ guy and has a really enduring interest in foods. He’s fit in well here.”
Phillips said he found the turnout at the farmers’ market “boomed” when the local produce started to become available.
“Next year, I’d like to see even more local produce—more food,” he remarked, adding people already are inquiring about booths for next year.
“I’m excited for next year. I want to plan more events and get more people out.”
Phillips added if people have local products they’re interested in selling, a good place to do that in at the farmers’ market.
“It’s a good place to test a business because the overhead costs are so low,” he explained. “There are people here every week and there’s money to be made.”
He noted there’s also one free table every week for a local not-for-profit community organization, but said it fills up fast so groups should book early.
“If people want to see something at market or have recommendations, I like to hear it so we can get the people what they want,” Phillips stressed.
Although the regular season for the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market is coming to an end, Phillips indicated people still will be able to purchase local foods prior to Christmas.
In addition to the Christmas Store, which runs at the farmer’ market building from mid-November until Christmas, there will be a local foods store there.
“We did some surveys and discovered people do have the desire to purchase local foods in the winter,” Phillips said, adding they plan to offer everything from root vegetables and cheese to honey, elk, bison, baking, beef, and candy.
“Basically, we’re looking for anything edible that’s locally-produced that people want to sell,” he remarked. “It’s a pilot project, but it will be interesting to see how much interest there will be.”
He explained it will be run by consignment, so people just need to drop off their products and they’ll get back anything that doesn’t sell.
“We hope that all foods that are regularly at market will be covered to some degree, plus more, like stuff for Christmas baking,” Cornell said.
“It’s an experiment, but I think it will be a nice partner with the Christmas Store with their crafts, trees, and poinsettias.”
For questions, comments, or more information on the farmers’ market and their initiatives, contact Phillips at 276-0458 or via e-mail at clovervalley@gmail.com
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
