(Nov. 10, 2016) This is the next-to last week for locally grown produce at the Snow Hill Farmer’s Market, which is marking the end of another season next Thursday, Nov. 17.
Though only a handful of vendors remain, the ones who are still coming to market are among the most popular, Ann Gibb, coordinator said.
Remaining are Girdletree Gardens, the vendor with the loaves of Amish bread and fall vegetables, and Maria Pereya, from Newark, also selling the last of the fall vegetables.
“It’s not a big market — we average about five vendors but have had as many as seven,” Gibb said. “A couple of people drop out earlier in the year because they sell bedding plants, and by mid-June it’s too late.”
The market is a relaxed and loose operation. There is no cost to be a vendor and only a simple application is required.
“We collect the applications before they come on the first day, or I’ll go out personally during the market to deliver and collect the forms,” Gibb said.
Gibb is a town employee, and her office in Town Hall is close to where the market is held, between Green and Market Streets in the town parking lot in front of the old firehouse.
“What’s good about the having the firehouse there is if the weather turns, we have some kind of shelter available — we don’t have to shut down,” she said.
A lack of vendors sharing the same dedication that Snow Hill’s have and weather concerns have been blamed for the West Ocean City Farmer’s Market closing down earlier this year.
“We always have a lot of interest, but not everyone always shows up,” Gibb said.
As the town doesn’t charge vendors to display their wares, nothing is lost by either party during an absence.
“We did have a couple of nice additions this year, with Bryan King’s Ethne Coffee Roasters offering several different beans and levels of roasting, and more baked goods,” she said.
But the town is also trying to keep the farmer’s market for the farmers.
“Our rule is up to 10 percent can be nonedible items. The food doesn’t have to be organic, but it does have to be vendor-produced,” she said.
Though only a handful of vendors remain, the ones who are still coming to market are among the most popular, Ann Gibb, coordinator said.
Remaining are Girdletree Gardens, the vendor with the loaves of Amish bread and fall vegetables, and Maria Pereya, from Newark, also selling the last of the fall vegetables.
“It’s not a big market — we average about five vendors but have had as many as seven,” Gibb said. “A couple of people drop out earlier in the year because they sell bedding plants, and by mid-June it’s too late.”
The market is a relaxed and loose operation. There is no cost to be a vendor and only a simple application is required.
“We collect the applications before they come on the first day, or I’ll go out personally during the market to deliver and collect the forms,” Gibb said.
Gibb is a town employee, and her office in Town Hall is close to where the market is held, between Green and Market Streets in the town parking lot in front of the old firehouse.
“What’s good about the having the firehouse there is if the weather turns, we have some kind of shelter available — we don’t have to shut down,” she said.
A lack of vendors sharing the same dedication that Snow Hill’s have and weather concerns have been blamed for the West Ocean City Farmer’s Market closing down earlier this year.
“We always have a lot of interest, but not everyone always shows up,” Gibb said.
As the town doesn’t charge vendors to display their wares, nothing is lost by either party during an absence.
“We did have a couple of nice additions this year, with Bryan King’s Ethne Coffee Roasters offering several different beans and levels of roasting, and more baked goods,” she said.
But the town is also trying to keep the farmer’s market for the farmers.
“Our rule is up to 10 percent can be nonedible items. The food doesn’t have to be organic, but it does have to be vendor-produced,” she said.