Opening day of the 2019 outdoor Bradford Farmers’ Market was damp, cold, and grey.
So was the final day outdoors,this past Saturday.
But in between, from May to Oct.12, the weather at the weekly market has been good, bringing out both vendors and shoppers throughout the summer months, for a selection of locally-grown produce and crafts.
“I think it was probably our best year yet,” said Market Manager Laura Vree. “We’ve had great vendors, reliable people, great crafters.”
The market has taken place every Saturday in the parking lot beside the Bradford library, rain or shine – and even when it’s raining, “everybody still comes!” Vree said.
Despite the weather on Saturday, shoppers came out for the great selection of local and Ontario-grown produce, from pears, peaches and plums from the Niagara Region, to the last of the sweet corn, at Springh Farms.
Over at Lakeview Gardens, the greenhouses continued to yield a variety of vegetables, from cucumbers and heritage tomatoes to decorative gourds and spicy hot peppers.
Sweet Annabella’s Tammy Jackson quickly sold out all of her seasonal pies, leaving only a handful of butter tarts and Chelsea buns by 10 a.m.
And over at The Polish Baker, chef Ryszard Surdyk had plenty of breads, bagels and pretzels, but his specialty perogies, stuffed with blueberries, turkey, or turkey, cranberries, and sweet potato – “It’s like turkey dinner in a perogie,” he said – sold out.
Fresh eggs, Pilliteri wines, European Meats, arts and crafts, music by Russ Clayton, free market bags - the Bradford Farmers' Market celebrated Harvest Fest, Thanksgiving, and its last day outside the library for this year, all rolled into one.
Missed it? Not to worry. The vendors have agreed to one final outdoor market at BWG’s Pumpkinfest, coming up on Oct. 19 at Henderson Memorial Community Park, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come out for the produce - as well as a day of live music, wagon and tractor rides, free pumpkin carving, games, storytime, facepainting, crafts and food. Henderson Park is located at 3171 Line 9 BWG.
The Bradford Farmers’ Market will return, for four indoor markets at the BWG Public Library & Community Centre, 425 Holland St. West, on Nov. 9 and 30, Dec. 14 and 21.
