Farmer’s Market 2015. Hub photo

Hub Staff

The first Wednesday in June will mark the new season for the Port Elgin Business Improvement Area (BIA) Farmer’s Market in Coulter Parkette, running each Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Market will run from June until the end of August, Port Elgin BIA Coordinator, Laura McInnes said, to relieve the Town of Saugeen Shores, as it loses its summer students who help set up the weekly event.

The Market, now in its fifth year, has grown each year and is still accepting vendors for the 2016 season. Vendors can sign up for the season for a fee of $175 or by the day for $25.

“I’ve had about eight new vendors contact me so far, so that’s pretty exciting,” McInnes said. “Most of the vendors are returning, and usually the two weeks leading up to the [Farmer’s] Market is when I get most of the vendors signed up.”

McInnes, along with the Port Elgin BIA is also busy organizing the Farm to Table dinner which is planned for August 12, with proceeds from the event going towards the Farmer’s Market.

McInnes said the BIA is hoping to procure more signage, and expand their advertising plan with the money raised from the exciting community event.

“We’re also hoping for a little more infrastructure for the Farmer’s Market, whether that’s tables, a sound system so we could have music, or even if we could pay buskers. Just so we can have more options of what we can offer,” McInnes said.

The Farm to Table committee is still in its early stages of planning but the team has already procured Chef Randy Felker, Executive Chef from Ristorante Rosina in Port Elgin, who is curating a team of local culinary experts from Port Elgin restaurants to help with the 150 person dinner, set to take place in Coulter Parkette.

“We’re really excited about the Farm to Table dinner and we think it’s going to be a great event that’s going to sell out and hopefully be a fixture in the years to come,” McInnes said.

Interested in becoming a vendor in the Port Elgin BIA Farmer’s Market? Contact Laura McInnes via e-mail, portelginbia@gmail.com or call 519-832-5565.

Farmer’s Market 2015. Hub photo