HOULTON, Maine –– The leaves in the community are starting to turn, and pumpkins are already up for sale by vendors affiliated with the Houlton Community Market.
And even though the market officially closes on Columbus Day, Oct. 12., the board that oversees the market and the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce are already reflecting on this year’s successes and planning ahead for next year.
Located in Market Square, the market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday from Memorial Day Weekend to Columbus Day. This season, more than 30 vendors offering bread, vegetables, cheese, donuts, jewelry, jams and more participated.
Kathryn Harnish and her husband, Rob Lawless, who run Took A Leap Farm, a small goat dairy farm and state-licensed creamery, are among the vendors who sell their wares at the community market. Lawless also is president of the market board and Harnish is a member. Harnish said during a recent interview that she thought the market had a successful year, despite the fact that it lost some vendors from last year.
“Some of the vendors we had in the past did not return this year,” she said. “I think some of that was due to scheduling and busy lives. But we also have three new vendors who just joined. So it is kind of a fluid thing. You might have vendors who join mid-season or near the end of the season. We now have glass artists and a vendor offering crocheted hats and one who makes jewelry out of found objects. We have a really nice balance of different kinds of things.”
In May, organizers had hoped to make a change to how the market was run by closing a section of the downtown to vehicle traffic on the northern side of Market Square when the market was taking place. That did not end up working, and the idea was scuttled after two weeks following complaints from motorists and downtown store owners.
“The whole idea behind doing that was to create a more community atmosphere,” she said. “We want people to get together and catch up. But we are getting there. We have live music most weekends, and we are getting more toward the festival atmosphere.”
Jane Torres, executive director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, agrees. She said that the number of vendors at the market fluctuated between 30 and 36 this summer. There were 36 vendors last year.
“We have some great products, and we are always looking for that true farmers market feel,” she said. “I would like to see a higher number of vendors sign up. I also think that we need more produce out for sale.”
Harnish said that the market “is always looking for more diversity.”
“There are not too many people selling eggs,” she said. “I’d like to see jams make a comeback. But we’ve got wonderful baked goods from the Amish, cheese and vegetables.”
Lisa Richardson, owner of Dakota Dreaming Montana Wishes in Patten, said in a recent interview that she has found great success at the market. Richardson sells handcrafted hats knitted to look like frogs, horses, kitty cats, and various other characters.
“I have sold 100 or more hats on just one Saturday,” said Richardson. “I have been very happy going to the market there. It is very busy, especially when there is nice weather, and I’ve gotten a lot of people who pass my name on to their friends. I couldn’t be happier.”
Harnish said that the vendors now “work well together.”
“I think that we have a great group and great customers and we have really good plans for the future,” she said.
