Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – The Fort Fairfield Community Market is gearing up for its second season in a brand new location.
According to Janet Kelle, executive director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, the market will open Saturday, May 23 at 8:30 a.m.
“We’ve changed locations. We are going to be on Presque Isle Street (Route 1A) across the road from the VFW right as you’re coming into town,” she said. “Our biggest reason for moving was visibility. There’s a lot of traffic on that road, plus it’s an open area. “When we were located on Main Street, although the traffic was there, we were behind hedges, so we weren’t as visible,” said Kelle. “The market had a lot of good exposure at the Agri-Business Trade Fair, and we’re hoping to build off of that.”
Market membership is $25 for the season.
The local Amish community will be on hand this year selling baked goods and crafts.
“The Amish are going to have strawberries and asparagus, which will be ready soon,” said Kelle.
There are presently eight members of the Fort Fairfield Community Market including Organic Sam’s, Mainely Grains, Kaclyn Krafts, Robin’s Chocolate Sauce, Yoder’s Home Bakery & Crafts, Harvey Miller Tack Shop, Swartzentruber Baskets & Crafts and Chops Ahoy Farm.
“We’ll be having more items for sale this year,” Kelle said. “Organic Sam’s, for example, has planted a lot of vegetables, so Gary Kaszas will have more product to sell. He also works with the FarmShare program for seniors, and he can accept food stamps, so that’s an option for people, too.”
Kelle said the market will be opened up to non-profit organizations “that would like to raise money and do food vending.”
“We’re looking for non-profits,” she said. “They might want to do a chicken barbecue, sell hotdogs or provide a breakfast. Any organization that is interested should give us a call.”
The Fort Fairfield Community Market will be open Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. until the products are gone.
“We’re not putting an end time,” said Kelle. “What was happening last year was we’d say the market would be open from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and people would come at 1 p.m. and there wouldn’t be anybody there because they had sold their goods and left. We’re recommending that people come early this year as goods will likely be gone by early afternoon.”
Organizers are currently developing a Web site for the market.
“People will be able to go in and order their products from the vendors online,” said Kelle, “and pick it up on Saturday. The Web site should be up-and-running within the next couple of weeks.”
Kelle encourages community members to shop at the market, which will feature everything from asparagus to baskets.
“The quality of products that we’re going to have is second-to-none,” she said. “We’ll have food vendors, as well as crafters and artisans, so there will truly be something for everyone.”
For more information on the community market or to become a member, call Kelle at 472-3802, or visit the Web site at www.fortcc.org/market.
