The Innisfail Farmers' Market has come to a close for another season.
The annual market opened on May 19 this year and closed with its last farmers market at the Innisfail Arena on Sept. 22.
“There's been good crowds and a good turnout,” said Christine Mountain, market manager with the Innisfail Farmers' Market. “It's been mostly busy (this summer). We've had lots of vendors and patrons coming through.
“We have bad days and good days but throughout the season they've done well,” she added.
Farmers and vendors including several new ones and many returning vendors sold everything from fruits and vegetables to home-baked goods and handmade crafts, among other items.
Mountain said many vendors seemed to enjoy a successful season and pointed to the high turnout for the Innisfail Farmers' Market this year, despite a poor economy with more families possibly pinching pennies.
“Everything is homemade and personal. It's not factory made but they're unique and one of a kind (type of items),” she said, adding that the products from local producers and farmers add to patrons' interest in the farmers market.
“Everybody but the B.C. fruit vendor is local (to Alberta),” said Mountain.
She noted that while many would love to enjoy a farmers market year round, there is no indoor shelter available for vendors to set up.
“We need somewhere to go from here but there's nowhere big enough. We need a community centre,” explained Mountain, noting that if they did have one available to use, they could possibly extend the farmers market season.
“We could go longer. By the time we finish (for the season) in September there's fresh vegetables being harvested,” she added, pointing to potatoes, squash and other fall produce.
Mountain said a year-round market is a possible future goal for the market to consider.
“It would be nice to have somewhere to go for another month or two after here,” said Mountain. “Hopefully next year's market is just as good if not better.”
