CARTHAGE — It’s almost that time of year — farmers market time, that is.
The Carthage Farmers Market opens for the season Friday. The weekly market is held at the Farmers Market Pavilion on Riverside Drive from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 27.
After exploring several options for a market manager, the market committee decided Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lori A. Borland will assume those duties.
She will staff a booth at the market from 6 a.m. to noon to check in vendors and handle any situation that arises.
At the booth, she will have fliers about upcoming events throughout the community and information on joining the chamber.
Besides offering a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, plants and craft items, the market provides live entertainment.
The chamber is seeking individuals or groups interested in showcasing their talents at the market from 10 a.m. to noon at a rate of $25 per hour.
Volunteer entertainment is also welcome. Those interested can call entertainment chairman Ronald R. Roch at 315-493-0021 for more information.
The market committee has several special events planned for the season.
Children’s Day is set for June 9. Schoolchildren will be visiting the market that day and some vendors will have specials for the young visitors.
Customer Appreciation Day will be July 14.
Military Appreciation Day is set for Aug. 4 with the possibility of a group from the 10th Mountain Division Band performing and specials from some vendors for military members.
Autumn Fest, with performances by Carthage Central High School students and displays by first responders, is set for Sept. 29.
For more information about the market, call 315-493-3590 or visit the chamber website at www.carthageny.com.
According to Ms. Borland, there are more than 36 vendors signed up to sell their wares and services which range from produce and plants to honey, maple syrup, meat, books by local authors, baked goods, hand sewn items, wood crafts, birdhouses, organics, knitted items, face painting and fishing lures.
New to the market this year are:
n Marvin Swartzentruber — honey
n Frank Kogut — honey
n Meekestead Farm — vegetables and cut flowers
n Lynea Longmore — woodburned items
n Terry Buckley — doll clothes, aprons, hand-sewn items
n Claudia Chandler — basket weaving, silver/gold jewelry
n Darlene LaPlatney — crafts, soaps, salves
Returning vendors are:
n Charlotte Everett — organic produce
n Cindy Bancroft — embroidered and crocheted items
n NNY Gals and Guys — embroidered and appliquéd toys, games, décor and accessories
n Burnham’s Pure Maple Syrup
n Elaine Brouty — jam, jelly, syrup, sewing , wood items
n Root 42 Rustics — rustic wooden crafts
n Sheri Strock — produce, annuals, perennials, goat’s milk soap, meat, eggs, etc.
n Ada Waite — homemade household items
n Brenda DeRouch — knitted hats, mittens and scarves
n Joe Zehr — veggies, fruits, sweet corn
n Ron Roch — produce
n Janice Gardner — fruits, veggies, sewn and wood products
n Marjorie Moser — baked goods
n Hope Marston — local author
n Bush Gardens — produce
n Red Barn Meats — meat
n Fish Happy Lures — fishing lures
n Lamont’s Food Fair — food vendor
n Mark Grau — vegetables
n Simmons Farm — produce, crafts
n Stony Creek Country Store — Steria home-baked goods and bulk food
n Sam Kanagy — produce
n Charlie Brown — wooden items