Kitchener-Waterloo

New summer market in Wilmot urges foodies to buy local

The new summer market for residents in Wilmot has staked out Thursday evening as prime time to attract and entice people to buy local produce.

Thursday evening market won’t compete with other local markets

The first Wilmot Summer Market was held May 26. The market will run Thursday evenings until October and organizers are hoping it will grow as more produce comes into season. (Wilmot Summer Market Facebook page)

There is a new summer market for residents in Wilmot.

Ashley Drudge is one of the organizers of the Thursday evening market and said at the first one, they had nine vendors selling seedlings, produce, baked goods and crafts.

"We had a great turnout from the community, the parking lot was full for most of the night," she said. "The vendors were super happy, and so we hope to see that continue throughout the summer."

Drudge said the day for the market was chosen specifically to avoid conflict with other local markets, including the successful Saturday morning market in Wellesley.

'People were excited'

She said they received great feedback from those who attended the first market last Thursday.

"People were excited that there was something within our community that they could go to and meet farmers and meet people, meet their neighbours and support something that they want to see in this area versus heading to the city all the time. It was encouraging to hear the positive feedback," she said.

Drudge herself likes to grow what she can, "but I can't grow everything."

Farmers' markets are great, she said, because you get to know the people behind the food.

Until October

Organizers are also offering local groups and sports teams a chance to raise money by running a BBQ on those nights.

The Wilmot Summer Market will be Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Steinman Mennonite Church at the intersection of Snyder's Road West and Nafziger Road between Baden and New Hamburg. It will run until October.