PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Though sun persevered Friday afternoon at the Riverside Public Market, sparse attendance left vendors hoping for larger crowds.
The market opened its summer season the first of this month with some major modifications: a new location, an altered schedule and even some musical attractions that organizers hope will entice more visitors.
Now situated in the large public parking lot adjacent to the courthouse, the market is in its familiar large tent with a semicircle of picnic tables nearby. It will eventually be housed in a permanent structure made possible by a grant from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation.
The move was prompted, according to city officials, because groundbreaking on the new Community Center and pool is expected to take place sometime this summer in the market’s old location. Additionally, the Sewall grant awarded $75,000 for the building of a Riverside Public Market Pavilion.
The market had its inaugural run last year and was open Thursdays and Fridays. However, this year, days of operation are Fridays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday afternoons from 1-5 p.m.
Friday afternoon’s display featured not only local produce, but also flowers, lamb meat, baked goods and preserves, maple products, fresh eggs, and even wood-burning and fused glass craftwork.
“It’s been slow the last two weeks,” said Constantino Freitas of Fort Fairfield, who had fresh eggs for sale. By Friday at around 4 p.m. he had sold 15 dozen.
“This year, we’re not doing quite as well as we were last year,” commented glass artisan Lisa Obstfeld of Designs by Samantha. “I think a lot of people don’t realize we’re here on Saturday afternoons.”
Some of the sellers speculated the light traffic may also be due to the location.
“It’s not like it was last year,” said a woman from the Center Bakery in Easton. “People probably just don’t know we’re here.”
Another vendor representing Hidden Meadow Farms in Bridgewater said, though the location is nicer and there is more parking, she doesn’t feel there is as much exposure to the public.
All of Friday’s merchants were hoping traffic improved, and planned to continue selling their various products at the market.
“I’ll be here Fridays and Saturdays, God willing,” Freitas said.
Hidden Meadow Farms will sell at the Riverside site Fridays and at the Farmers’ Market in the Aroostook Centre Mall parking lot on Saturdays.
Obstfeld believed traffic would increase as the summer goes on. “As we get further into the season, I think we’re going to have more vendors,” she noted.
The Aroostook Medical Center, Healthy Aroostook/Aroostook County Action Program and the Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District will be involved again this year to help the market bring healthy activities and nutrition education to the public. Additionally, market organizers explained, Farm Credit East recently announced a $5,000 contribution to help the market attain its goals.
Brand-new for this summer has been the “Music at the Market” series, which has included locals Randy King and Emily Ramsey and Maine-based guitarist Max Garcia Conover, as well as The County Combo, who played jazz selections during boardings of Saturday’s charity passenger rail excursion to benefit TAMC’s Pediatric Care.
The next musical offering will be Saturday, Aug. 8, when the group Passerine will offer a fresh take on traditional folk and bluegrass, as well as original songs from ballads to edgier numbers. Passerine, from Sarasota, Fla., will take the stage at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit the Riverside Public Market’s page on Facebook.
