Preparations are underway to help transform Powell River’s Open Air Market into a bigger event that draws more people for fresh produce and hand-baked goodies.
This year the weekend summer market, held at Powell River Agricultural Association Exhibition Grounds on McLeod Road, opens on Saturday, April 26, and runs each weekend until the end of September.
The market is open from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Saturdays and 12:30 to 2:30 pm on Sundays. The miniature train runs on Sundays for the children to enjoy.
Juhli Jobi, the market’s manager, is working hard to promote the market through new signs to boost attendance.
“We want to attract people to the event and people everywhere know what a farmers’ market is,” said Jobi, who added that while calling the event an open air market was fine for people in Powell River who knew what that was, it was confusing for people not familiar with the market who might be from out-of-town.
“It doesn’t really say what it is,” she said, “but the term farmers’ market, especially for publicity purposes, makes more sense. I’m not necessarily trying to change the name of it because it is a staple in Powell River, I’m just thinking about how we reach more people and have more people come in. I can guarantee no one from out of town is searching online for Powell River Open Air Market.”
She added that they have over 50 vendors confirmed for the market right now and she hopes that more vendors will draw more people to the market.
Jobi, who worked in telecommunications prior to coming on board with the farmers’ market, has established a blog (http://powellriverfarmersmarket.blogspot.ca/) and is using social media tools Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to help promote the market.
She plans to write blog posts about the market and profiles of the farmers who are selling their wares and give customers more information about which vendors will be at the market on Saturdays and Sundays.
A slight change for people attending the market this year will be the need to bring a travel mug for drinks, as the market vendors will no longer be able to wash their own dishes.
Jobi said that there are issues with the exhibition grounds’ drainage system and they won’t be able to wash dishes onsite. Instead, she said she intends to have compostable paper plates available if needed, or people can take their own utensils and plates.
She has organized close to 40 volunteers to help prepare the grounds for next weekend’s opening. She is looking at many small projects to undertake that will freshen up the market and raise its appeal. A couple of projects include bringing in some new sand for the children’s sand box and some crushed gravel to level out some of the pathways.
“I really want the market to have more of a visible pleasant impact,” she added.
For more information readers can contact Jobi at 604.414.5076 or [email protected].
