Market maintains high hopes

The Waynesboro Farmers Market has had the variety of locally grown products it wanted in its first year, but it would like to grow in one critical element – customers.

“What we need are more customers,” said Jim Nichols, the Waynesboro Farmers Market committee chairman.

Nichols said the event met goals to provide an outlet for sustainable agriculture and to host a weekly event for downtown Waynesboro.

“I think it would be fair to say that we met our objectives,” Nichols said. “We just are a little bit disappointed in the lack of community response. But, we’ll be back.”

The last day for this season’s Farmers Market season is next Wednesday.

The market, though small, had about 15 vendors serve it at various points this year, Nichols said. Each week’s market had, he said, had a selection of vegetables, produce, meats, cheese, baked goods, eggs, honey and wine.

Even with the small size, Nichols said the vendors “for the most part” had items left over.

James Showalter, a farmer in the Spring Hill area of Augusta County and a regular participant in the Waynesboro Farmers Market, said he believes in the potential of the market and plans to return, but had hoped for more sales. He sold various meats, eggs, vegetables, flour and baked goods.

“It started out stronger than I expected, but it has slipped as the year progressed,” Showalter said. “It seemed like sales were weaker. The customer traffic seemed to slim out some.”

Nichols said that it has been mostly the same set of customers coming every Wednesday.

A misconception of farmers markets, Nichols said, is that it’s a place where people can come to get a good deal. Rather, he said it’s about the farmers making a profit.

“People need to know the value of local food,” said Ellen Winter, a farmers market committee member.

Nichols said the committee would use the upcoming off-season to revise and enhance the farmers market for next year. Committee members said they would look to add a few more vendors and musicians, and consider changing the date and time it takes place.

Committee members said, however, that it comes down to having more awareness, and ultimately, more people showing up.

“I’d like to have it to a point that when we open the first day, that we have a damned big crowd down here,” Nichols said.