Despite the stormy skies, the first South Cariboo Farmers’ Market of the season saw shoppers in droves checking out the produce and enjoying the live music and free beef on a bun on May 12.
Vendors set themselves up under tents showcasing their products and talking to customers, all the while avoiding the water falling from the sky.
“Aside from the rainy weather, it’s been good. We’ve got a good vendor turn out, a good variety of products, lots of new vendors and the customers have been coming steadily all morning,” says market manager Laura Markila.
The market has expanded inside the 100 Mile House Community Hall this year, something that Markila says has attracted new vendors who otherwise wouldn’t have come.
While Mike Palka of Mike’s Wood Crafts is not a new vendor to the market, he says he’s looking forward to the new season.
“It’s always been my passion doing woodworking so I do all kinds of things and every year I make something new and different and unique.”
He spends the winter — when he’s not ice fishing — building new products to sell at the market.
The South Cariboo Farmers’ Market is the only market Palka goes to.
“I do it for the pleasure of working with the wood more than making money,” he says.
“It’s a great community here. I enjoy it.”
People poked around the different vendors, many walking off with large flower baskets under their arms, fresh produce for dinner or even some new jewelry.
Despite the uptick in vendors, Markila says the farmers’ market is still on the lookout for more.
“We do have room for more vendors so if there is anybody who would like to give it a try they can get a hold of me,” she says.
Markila can be reached at 250-397-2852 or more information can be found at www.southcariboofarmersmarket.org.
She says they are also on the lookout for more musicians.
The market will run on the corner of Birch and Third and inside the Community Hall every Friday until Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.