Farmers market seeking permanent home

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

The growth of the Wytheville Farmers Market is prompting its board of directors to seek a permanent site for the operation. While the current Main Street location serves vendors and customers well, the property is for sale, which could affect the future of the farmers market.
The owners of the former R.P. Johnson & Sons property at 355 E. Main St. now lease the grounds to the farmers market board on a month-to-month basis. If they sell the property, the farmers market would have 30 days’ notice to vacate the premises.
Mike Cassell, a local vendor and the market’s board chairman, brought his organization’s concerns to Wytheville Town Council on Monday evening. On the board’s behalf, he asked council for a letter of intent to build a permanent shelter for the farmers market on town-owned property.
“We want to stay on Main Street or one block off,” Cassell noted.
Two of the locations mentioned were a portion of the parking lot at the Wytheville Community Center on Spring Street and a section of the parking lot of the Wytheville Municipal Building on East Monroe Street.
In discussions of a possible site, Mayor Trent Crewe pointed out the community center parking lot is committed to Chautauqua Festival-in-the-Park two Saturdays each June. He also noted that time of year would be important to farmers market vendors.
According to Cassell, his board wants a shelter similar to the farmers market building in Marion but with space for 40 vendors. The building, he said, could be used for other events in the months not used for the farmers market.
Construction funding, Cassell reported, is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development programs. Vendors’ fees, he said, could go toward upkeep of the shelter.
Continued grants from the Wythe-Bland Foundation will cover the manager’s salary and other expenses, according to Cassell. Application for the next round of funding through the foundation is due Aug. 1, Cassell said, and he asked council for the letter of intent to accompany the application.
While not denying the request, council did say it needed a little more time to consider certain aspects of the proposed project.
In Cassell’s report on the farmers market, the number of vendors is expected to reach 35 at the peak of the growing season. There were 23 vendors on the first day of the farmers market this year compared to the 20 vendors for all of last year.
“The farmers market has greatly increased in the volume of vendors and customers as well,” Cassell stated. “Lots of markets are seeing a decline in vendors.”
He credited market manager Suzie Richert with much of the organization’s success. Cassell mentioned her addition of special events each Saturday, which has made the farmers market a social event.
“It’s an enjoyable time,” he added. “It’s growing like crazy.”
The Wytheville Farmers Market is open Saturdays in May through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is the second year it has opened in May rather June.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or wquesenberry@wythenews.com.