The Lacombe Farmer’s Market is changing their days of operation for the 2022 season.
For years, the market has run on Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. but this year the market has been moved to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Michener Park.
Lacombe Farmer’s Market manager Tracey Richter is hoping a change to the date and time of the market will help open up the market to new vendors and visitors.
“The Lacombe Farmer’s Market is the same great market, just on a new great day at a new great time,” said Richter. “Change isn’t easy but I think this is going to open up the door and this change might even give people a chance to come to their first market.”
Over the last few years the market’s board and past manager received requests to change the date and time of the market. This year the change will be put into place, meaning the date and time could change again.
Richter, Lacombe farmers’ market manager is confident they won’t need to do that.
“We aren’t looking at this as a pilot project. We’re moving forward like we won’t go back.”
Richter is already seeing success in the 2022 season. Last year there were a steady 87 vendors, this year Richter has 115 spots to fill and a list of 140 requests.
“If we could expand our area we could probably have 140. It’s a good problem to have,” said Richter. She is working on a system that will allow as many vendors as possible to attend this year.
Richter combs through the list of vendor applications to ensure all the items for sale at the market are local, including the produce which is all grown with 50 kilometres of Lacombe.
“We want it to be a destination event with local food trucks, produce and artists.”
The season will run from May 12 to Oct. 6. A Spring Farmers’ Market will be held at the Lacombe Memorial Centre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 30th.