Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Greater Napanee’s Hometown Market officially opened for the season on Saturday, operating a bit differently than in previous years.
Set up for the first time outside the Strathcona Paper Centre, the market also saw increased safety protocols such as mandatory face covers for all customers and a brief health questionnaire posed to customers before entering.
Despite the changes, the market saw a steady stream of customers right from their 9 a.m. open through close at 2 p.m.
“The vendors were really happy and we had a really positive response from the people attending,” said Kelsey Pearson, community programming clerk with Greater Napanee. “I was happy to see people feeling safe, making purchases and being able to support local small businesses and see all the old vendors back. Although it looks different and is in a different location, it was still a really uplifting experience.”
Pearson says customers were good about following the new rules.
“Everyone was respectful and kept social distancing and that was really nice to see,” said Pearson.
As of right now, the market is limited to 10 vendors with a focus on local food, particularly fresh produce, meat and baked goods. They are Heriter Farms, Charlie’s Acres, Bumblerock Farms, North Shore Organic Farm, St. Lawrence Coffee Company, Milk & Cookies Café, Hannah’s Maple Syrup, A Kid in a Candy Shop, ED Baking & Breadmaking & JD Turning and Janssens Orchards. Each of these vendors will be present at the market throughout its weekly run through September.
For many of the vendors, the market is their only avenue to allow customers an up close look at their product.
“Once we were able to contact the vendors and let them know (there was going to be a Hometown Market season) there were a few that were saying they weren’t sure how this season was going to go without the market,” said Pearson. “It helps makes sales and that’s huge, but it’s also presenting their livelihoods and this is a product they really care about and it’s heartbreaking when you don’t get to engage with that community and show off something that you’ve been working so hard towards and being able to educate people what they do because they put all their energy into their products.”
For shoppers, the outdoor setting provided a comfort level for those who don’t like the idea of entering a store.
Pearson said the Hometown Market’s Facebook page will be profiling each of the vendors throughout the season to give customers a closer look at the personalities behind the products. It’ll also allow shoppers to have more insight into where their food comes from.
The town will continue to work closely with KFL&A Public Health and could add more vendors as the season goes on.
Though there is currently a waitlist, vendors looking to take part this season can contact HometownMarket@GreaterNapanee.com.
The market will run every Saturday through September on the south lawn of the SPC.