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June 02. 2012 8:22PM
New Hampshire
Fresh local products, like these offered last year at the Laconia Main Street Outdoor Marketplace, return to the downtown this summer. Laconia is blessed with two different farmers markets, one offered on Thusday afternoons beginning at 3 p.m., which starts next Thursday, June 7 in the parking lot between Main and Pleasant Street, across from the Bank of NH (formerly Laconia Savings Bank). A seperate Laconia Farmers Market is held each Saturday morning in the City Hall Parking lot. It begins on June 23. (Courtesy)
Laconia doubles down on farmers markets
Fresh local products, like these offered last year at the Laconia Main Street Outdoor Marketplace, return to the downtown this summer. Laconia is blessed with two different farmers markets, one offered on Thusday afternoons beginning at 3 p.m., which starts next Thursday, June 7 in the parking lot between Main and Pleasant Street, across from the Bank of NH (formerly Laconia Savings Bank). A seperate Laconia Farmers Market is held each Saturday morning in the City Hall Parking lot. It begins on June 23. (Courtesy)
LACONIA — Two weekly farmers markets are due to open for the season this month, providing an additional draw to downtown on Thursdays and Saturdays.
The Laconia Main Street Outdoor Marketplace opens this Thursday, beginning at 3 p.m. in the parking lot between Main and Pleasant Street, across from the Bank of New Hampshire (formerly Laconia Savings Bank). It will operate every Thursday through Sept. 27.
The Laconia Farmers Market, scheduled to begin its 39th season June 23, will conduct business in the City Hall parking lot every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon through Oct. 6.
City Manager Scott Myers said the markets are very popular, “have great variety of local products” and bring people downtown.
“They have “a very good following,” he said.
Sue and Randy Bullerwell of Laconia, owners of All My Life Jewelers, organize the Thursday market.
Sue Bullerwell said the two markets are marketing together this year to help draw crossover business.
She said the Thursday market this year has 35 vendors offering raw-milk products, fresh fruits and vegetables (including organic), local meats, breads, eggs, flowers, local wine, wool, candles, embroidery, crafts, beads, soaps, coffee, seafood and herbs. The market also will feature live entertainment.
Bullerwell said the market has grown every year, resulting in a waiting list of vendors hoping to open a booth.
Customers comprise a mix of locals and visitors.
“We see a lot of people catching up who have not seen people all winter,” she said. “It is also very popular with people who work downtown.”
Bullerwell said the city doesn't charge for the market's use of the parking lot and cited strong support from local businesses, particularly the Bank of New Hampshire, Sunflower Natural Foods, Franklin Savings Bank, Meredith Village Savings Bank and Melcher & Prescott Insurance, as well as her own business.
Michelle Descoteaux of Gilmanton is market master for the Laconia Farmers Market, which she said may be the oldest in the state. Most of the Saturday market's vendors don't operate their own farm stands, she said, but rather have land under cultivation at home and offer a few products from relatively small harvests.
Saturday shoppers will find berries, honey, eggs, soap, potted and dried herbs, vegetables (including organic), tea, artisan breads, dog treats, soy candles and bath products, cut flowers and seafood brought in from Portsmouth.
Descoteaux said that, like its Thursday counterpart, the Saturday market attracts a mix of customers.
“We tend to get a lot of visitors to the lake,” she said.
The Saturday farmer's market now accepts Snap/EBT and credit-card payments.
Last year was the first it offered that service, and it worked well for customers and vendors, Deescoteaux said.
The Laconia Main Street Outdoor Marketplace opens this Thursday, beginning at 3 p.m. in the parking lot between Main and Pleasant Street, across from the Bank of New Hampshire (formerly Laconia Savings Bank). It will operate every Thursday through Sept. 27.
The Laconia Farmers Market, scheduled to begin its 39th season June 23, will conduct business in the City Hall parking lot every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon through Oct. 6.
City Manager Scott Myers said the markets are very popular, “have great variety of local products” and bring people downtown.
“They have “a very good following,” he said.
Sue and Randy Bullerwell of Laconia, owners of All My Life Jewelers, organize the Thursday market.
Sue Bullerwell said the two markets are marketing together this year to help draw crossover business.
She said the Thursday market this year has 35 vendors offering raw-milk products, fresh fruits and vegetables (including organic), local meats, breads, eggs, flowers, local wine, wool, candles, embroidery, crafts, beads, soaps, coffee, seafood and herbs. The market also will feature live entertainment.
Bullerwell said the market has grown every year, resulting in a waiting list of vendors hoping to open a booth.
Customers comprise a mix of locals and visitors.
“We see a lot of people catching up who have not seen people all winter,” she said. “It is also very popular with people who work downtown.”
Bullerwell said the city doesn't charge for the market's use of the parking lot and cited strong support from local businesses, particularly the Bank of New Hampshire, Sunflower Natural Foods, Franklin Savings Bank, Meredith Village Savings Bank and Melcher & Prescott Insurance, as well as her own business.
Michelle Descoteaux of Gilmanton is market master for the Laconia Farmers Market, which she said may be the oldest in the state. Most of the Saturday market's vendors don't operate their own farm stands, she said, but rather have land under cultivation at home and offer a few products from relatively small harvests.
Saturday shoppers will find berries, honey, eggs, soap, potted and dried herbs, vegetables (including organic), tea, artisan breads, dog treats, soy candles and bath products, cut flowers and seafood brought in from Portsmouth.
Descoteaux said that, like its Thursday counterpart, the Saturday market attracts a mix of customers.
“We tend to get a lot of visitors to the lake,” she said.
The Saturday farmer's market now accepts Snap/EBT and credit-card payments.
Last year was the first it offered that service, and it worked well for customers and vendors, Deescoteaux said.