A Princeton woman is hoping to bring community and spirit to the summer with a Sunday market in the downtown core.
A reqest by Solitaire Steele to close part of Vermilion Avenue for 13 Sundays to accommodate vendors, artisans, gardeners and musicians was approved by council Tuesday night.
“I’m really hoping that having this market on Vermilion Street will bring tourists into town, rather than them just stopping at a place on the highway,” she said in an interview with The Spotlight.
“I would love to see a few vegetable stands and maybe some baked goods, and all those sorts of things that you would expect from a farmers’ market.”
Steele moved to Princeton last summer. A nurse and consultant, she said: “I didn’t come to town thinking I wanted to start a farmers’ market.”
However, she saw the potential for such a venture. “I thought it was a shame that we didn’t have a big farmers’ market here like we did in North Vancouver…I thought rather than just moaning about it maybe I should have a go at setting this up and see if it’s successful.”
She said it is important to her to not compete with the Saturday market held on Highway 3 at the Lower Similkameen Indian Band office.
“One of the reasons I chose the Sunday was to be respectful of the fact that there is a market Saturdays…I don’t want to trod on anyone’s toes.”
Unlike the Saturday market, which also runs throughout the summer months, Steele’s proposed venture would not permit the selling of used goods.
“We’ve got so many great artisans in Princeton, people who make honey and soap and all kinds of things. And I want to get some people who will bring their garden produce so it will have more of a farmers’ market feel to it.”
Steele has networked with other market organizers in the area, and hopes she can tantalize some of their regular produce vendors to set up shop in Princeton.
“There are some local growers around here and I’m hoping they will be able to provide some produce. I don’t know if there is enough people in town that will be able to supply the market consistently, so I will be reaching out to some of the fruit stands in Keremeos to see if they would be interested in coming up.”
Steele proposes to run the market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The municipality would be required to give permission to close one side of Vermilion Avenue closest to the library, and provide road closed signs and garbage and recycling bins.
A season’s pass for vendors would cost $195, or $15 per market, and the drop in vendor fee is set at $25 per day.
The Princeton Arts Council has agreed to provide live music during market hours. “I’m hoping it will be successful and people will support it because it’s really about bringing that community spirit into the town.”