Clarence Hollow Farmers Market's successful season comes to an end

As the temperature drops and winter approaches, the Clarence Hollow Farmers Market’s season is coming to an end after another successful year. With the unpredictable weather, several vendors have already begun shutting down but others will be there for one last weekend.

This season, the market added several new special events, which turned out quite successful.

“The Chef Cook-off was a hit,” said Market Manager Cheryl Anthony.

Market goers were lined up to taste the treats that chefs from two local restaurants had put together using only ingredients from market vendors. This event will be sure to make it to next season’s calendar of special events.

Although this harvest season’s weather was unfavorable, there was still a great deal of new and returning vendors at the market. Anthony hopes to attract even more new vendors for next year as well.

In order to make the market an even larger event than it already is, Anthony is still looking for more community support.

“We’re looking forward to expanding our vendor base,” she said. “We can get more vendors if we get more community participation.”

The market emphasizes on buying local and supporting local businesses to help strengthen the community.

“We need to educate people to make them understand that the produce that you get at our market is picked the day before you purchase it,” she said.

Anthony added that the market is always looking to improve, even though it has had 10 successful years already.

Planning for next year’s market season will begin in January. Anthony mentioned keeping the same special events that go on each year but would also like to add some new events and possibly make some changes. There will also be a fund-raiser held next season to help raise money to do work on the market’s pavilion.

“We’re always looking for fresh ideas,” she said. “It takes a whole bunch of people to make this work every week.”

The Clarence Hollow Farmers Market has been known to not only be a great place to buy fresh, locally grown food, but also a time for the community to socialize.

“People come out because it’s fun. You can see your neighbors,” said Anthony. “We want to keep making it a destination, a place where people want to come.”

To help out with the market’s next season, you can become a sponsor or friend of the market. For more information on this, visit www.clarencefarmersmarket.com. For those who already sponsor the market or are friends of the market, Anthony and the rest of the Clarence Hollow Farmers Market committee send special thanks for all of your support.