City Farmers' Market set to move outdoors
Toolbox
By STEPHANIE M. PETERS STAFF WRITER - Published: May 8, 2009
When the Farmers' Market migrates from its winter home on Wales Street to its summer site at Depot Park on Saturday, it will be marked for the first time by the type of event dear to Rutlanders' hearts: a parade.
Organizers of the market hope the procession will become yet another tradition of the ever-growing Summer Farmers' Market, which this season will feature a number of other new attractions and vendors, as well as the collaboration of many of the community's agriculturally minded organizations.
For the first time, too, the market – a joint effort of the Vermont Farmers' Market and the Rutland County Farmers' Market – will feature more than 80 vendors.
In large part, the market's ability to continually expand is due to the support of the city, according to Pat Carbonell, the Vermont Farmers' Market coordinator of this year's summer market.
"Mayor (Christopher) Louras is a very avid supporter of the Farmers' Market," Carbonell said Thursday. "He supports the idea of the growth of agriculture in the area as part of the sustainable economy and that's been a big part of it. If farmers and agricultural producers have a place to sell their wares, the more they will do it."
New to the market this year is a special events tent that will feature a rotation of hands-on demonstrations including a monthly "Shopping with the chef," live sheep accompanied by a wool crafter and at least two demonstrations by West Rutland's Carving Studio, Carbonell said.
On the southern side of the market, which is managed by the Rutland County Farmers' Market, more than 30 vendors will display their wares while a rotating schedule of musical acts entertain the crowds, according to its manager, Judy Dark.
"It's an interesting time for the market, and it hasn't even begun yet," she said. Dark and Carbonell lament that, for the first year, they've been unable to accommodate the demand for space at the market. Both are keeping a waiting list, they said.
As for the parade, it was born out of a conversation between Jim Sabataso, co-chairman of the city's Sustainable Rutland committee, and Greg Cox, manager of the winter market.
"We felt there should be something to mark the occasion of going from the winter market to the summer market," said Jim Sabataso, the co-chairman of Sustainable Rutland.
Sabataso said it will feature members of the agriculture community, children, musicians, farmers and the mayor, who, when he arrives in Depot Park, will participate in the annual tossing of the radish.
stephanie.peters@rutlandherald.com
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