ATHABASCA - Small businesses have always been at the root of any community, and since COVID-19 restrictions were all but ended, some of the Athabasca region’s smallest businesses have been growing their profiles with the help of the weekly Athabasca Farmers’ Market.
It’s a great opportunity for local entrepreneurs to grow their profiles and their businesses, says Farmers’ Market manager Yvonne McDermid, and because of this, the weekly Saturday tradition has never been so big.
On Saturday, July 24, 35 vendors gathered at Riverfront Park, one of the largest to happen yet.
“Last year we had 20 vendors,” McDermid said of the markets prior to COVID-19. “Now we're between 33 and 35 and we are going to hit 40 here in a week or so.”
She attributed much of this growth to the rapidly increasing interest in crafting and entrepreneurship over the course of COVID-19 and to those looking to make a bit of extra money.
As for the number of attendees at the market, many have experienced the hardships of small business ownership throughout the pandemic, and customers are coming out to support them however they can.
“I think the reason people want to buy locally-produced food if they can [is because] they realize how hard people have been hit locally,” McDermid said.
Plenty of the market’s vendors have noticed the growth themselves as both more vendors and more customers join in on the fun.
Rocks and Gems business owner Arnold Reschke felt the atmosphere of the market was an excellent one that was more than welcoming of small business owners, old and new alike.
“I think there's actually more vendors today than I have seen before, so it's really good to see,” said market-goer Christine Zinnick. “It's nice to be outside, more people are actually wanting to go outside.”
Now those at the farmers market are coming across many vendors they know and love, whether it’s those selling fresh herbs and vegetables, or home-made baking and preserves, along with many they have never come across before, such as flower vendors, scrunchie-makers, and many more.
This increased diversity has led to an even greater crowd at the farmers market, and McDermid predicts the crowd will only grow more when the weather turns and they move inside the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
“I anticipate that the market will continue to grow because there are lots of people that will come inside that won't go outside,” McDermid said.
As for now, the farmers market will continue at the river front for the remainder of the summer, drawing in visitors from both in and out of town every Saturday to discover the unique treasures available there.
