Clearwater Farmers' Market will continue until the end of October, according to Suzanne Gravelle, one of the organizers. Table and display spaces are free of charge for the rest of this season. About 10 vendors were present on the Saturday of the Thanksgiving weekend.
Anne Baker, Suzanne Wood, Dorothy Schulte and Jean McRoberts all sit with Gravelle on the farmers’ market operating board. This group also belongs to the BC Association of Farmer’s Markets, which supplies them with insurance and support. Funds raised from space rental pay membership fees for the association and provides a stipend for a manager.
The board has an agreement with Doug Trotter to operate on the Interior Whitewater Rafting property. The market people really enjoy being on grass, which is much preferable to working on a gravel or asphalt parking lot as many markets are.
There are indications that the Saturday morning combination of the market and the Elks breakfast produces a mutual benefit to the businesses in the area. The partnership between IWW, the market and the Elks provides not only a public service, but gives everybody an opportunity for a great social time.
Plans for next year are already being discussed. Undoubtedly things done this year will be reviewed and possibly revised while some new ideas are being bounced around.
– Grant Gale