The jewel that is the Codrington Farmers’ Market is returning with about 50 vendors for its 11th season starting this Sunday, May 4.
Featuring fresh local produce, meats, soaps, preserves, baked goods, plants, flowers, live music weekly, snack food producers with wood-fired pizza and authentic Thai food, all kinds of handcrafted items, and so much more, the lineup for this season is shaping up well, says Liana Palmer, treasurer and one of seven who power the 100 per cent run volunteer market.
Eleven years in, Palmer tells us the market continues to attract new visitors and vendors – and it sounds like there could be even more interest in supporting local this season.
Palmer gives us a glimpse into just a few of the new vendors joining the market this season.
“Our artisans make all their own products and that number has also grown,” adds Palmer. “People will always find the perfect gift for someone else and the best products to indulge yourself – think, soap, jewelry, candles, wood products, glass items, quilted items … and the list goes on.”
Whether you’re looking to stock up on honey or maple syrup after the long winter – or looking for some gems for barbecue season, or freeze-dried snacks, this season will have it all.
And that’s not all.
A number of local favourites are also returning, offering up delicious eats, shares Palmer.
Over the years, the market has grown to become a hub of bustling activity on Sunday mornings along County Road 30, and now there’s the addition of the historic hops kiln barn next door, which was previously housed at the former Memory Junction Museum property and originally built in the 1880s.
In addition to the food and beverage vendors and artisan marketplace, weekly entertainers perform live for shoppers. Opening day will feature musician Ian Roy.
You can even now get knives and tools sharpened while shopping.
The market also has special events throughout the year.
First to come is “Kid’s Day” in July, with residents encouraged to keep an eye on the market’s Facebook page for more details, but there are also several new additions in the works.
While shining a light on farmers for “Agriculture Day,” market hours will be increased straight through to 4 p.m. that day.
“We’re hoping it will be pretty exciting and we’re hard at work planning for it even at this time,” says Palmer.
But you don’t have to wait until then to delve into the inspiring story of the hops barn relocation now housed next door.
The 145-year-old barn will have its doors open Sunday as part of opening day celebrations, with representatives from the Brian Todd Memorial Community Fund board on hand to share more about the dismantling, reassembly, and history of the hops industry in Brighton.
Later in the season, Palmer says the market has plans to have Dan Buchannan, Brighton’s “History Guy,” visit and delve further into the hops industry back in the day.
The market, which is located at 2992 County Rd. 30, runs Sundays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through to Oct. 26.
The market also continues to prioritize supporting local charities and causes – among just one is Campbellford Memorial Hospital.
“We’d like to remind people that they can also purchase ‘Catch the Ace’ lottery tickets at our market,” says Palmer. “We’re told that over $8,000 has been raised at our market, which means over $4,000 went directly to Campbellford hospital for desperately needed items, so we’re really proud that we can help them out that way.”
Over the years, the market has grown into a unique rural gem and become one of the region’s premier weekly destinations.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)