Sudbury farmers' market may see double the vendors

Morning North6:32Eat Local Sudbury will run Downtown Market this year

Eat Local Sudbury will now be in charge of the day to day operations of the Downtown market this year. Vendor fees are also being cut in half. Peggy Bailie, the executive director of Eat local Sudbury, told us more about the changes.

Things just got a whole lot easier for vendors to take part in the Sudbury farmers' market this year.

The fees for a Downtown Sudbury Market stall or table have been cut in half, and there are also more options for vendors to come for a day here and there.

The market's working group discovered the fees were higher than other markets in the north — and vendors were complaining.

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Meredith Armstrong, the city's manager of tourism and culture, said she hopes the change will attract double the vendors.

"We want a busier market with a lot more to see and do," she said.

"And so, by removing the barrier that was a high fee for a vendor to participate, our ultimate priority is bringing everybody in and engaging them in what is their market."

Armstrong said last year's farmers' market had about 35 vendors.

"We call it the zucchini factor," she continued.

"Maybe you grew a lot of zucchini and you'd like to bring them to the market. Now, for about 25$, you can get a table for the day and sell your produce."

The "zucchini factor" is meant to help those who may have a bumper crop to rent a space for a day instead of the whole season.

The city has also contracted Eat Local Sudbury to manage and operate the market.

Eat Local executive director Peggy Baillie said her organization will be able to save the city money because of their contacts.

"Just by nature of the way thing operate, it's a lot  more affordable for us to do this work," she said.

The market will open earlier in June this year to give farmers a chance to sell things like seedlings.