Tuesday market organizer says attendance has plummeted
Organizers of one of the longest running farmers markets in the area are saying during a time of buy local consciousness, a declining customer base is threatening its survival`and that a new batch of markets is the reason.
The Delmar Market, which has run on Tuesday afternoons in the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church since 1990, is organized by the Regional Farmers Market Association, which also run a market in downtown Albany. President Annette Van Auken said dropping attendance is forcing some of the smaller vendors to forgo coming to the market.
`Several of the growers have`not formally dropped out, but they’re sort of sitting on the sidelines right now hoping that the market can be revived,` she said.
Van Auken said the association does not keep attendance figures or sales receipts, but estimated customer numbers have dropped by as much as 70 percent from levels a few years ago, and roughly half the vendors have bowed out. Many of the bigger sellers remain, she said.
`The market is fighting for its survival, and may not survive,` Van Auken said.
While last year’s market season saw consistent rain, which also affected crops, things have failed to pick up this season. Van Auken said she feels the new, Saturday farmers market held just down the road is sapping shoppers.
`The only thing we know is what customers are telling us, is that it’s more convenient to go on Saturdays,` she said.
One of the larger sellers remaining is Richard Rugen, a co-owner of Hope Valley Farm in Hamilton County. He said the Tuesday market has been a regular destination for his flowers and vegetables for the past 15 years or so, but in the past two years his sales have taken a dive.
`Since the Saturday market began, I would say last year, for example, my sales were down about 40 percent compared to the year before,` Rugen said. `This is a serious blow to the economy of our farm. We do this to make a living.`
Rugen said the Tuesday market had previously been the best performing market the farm participated in, making it worth the distance traveled from Hamilton County. The farm generally does five markets a week, he said.
Hope Valley Farm continues to participate in the Tuesday market.
The number of markets to choose from has increased dramatically in the past few years, including the Delmar Saturday Farmers Market, which organizers say has been a great success. Paul Tick, organizer of the market, said it does not receive any financial backing from the town. The market operates at the Bethlehem Central Middle School and is in its second year.
`From our perspective, the more farmers markets there are, not just in Delmar but all over the country, the better,` Tick said. `Farmers markets are growing by leaps and bounds all over the country. We encourage people to support their local farmers through farmers markets and to eat fresh, local and healthy foods as much as possible.`
Despite her suspicion the Saturday market is impacting the one earlier in the week, Van Auken said she’s pleased to see a buy local spirit being embraced.
`We wish them well, we’re happy for the community and we wish them every success,` she said of the Saturday market. `You cant blame that on them. They simply wanted to provide a happy community experience for people… There just may not be enough demand to support two markets.`
The Delmar Market is held every Tuesday from 2:30 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the United Methodist Church, through November 23. The Delmar Saturday Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Bethlehem Central Middle School. It will move indoors there when the weather gets cold.“
