Rain didn’t stop customers from checking out the eight vendors set up on the opening day of Greater Sudbury’s outdoor summer farmer’s market. “There’s a different feel to The Market if it’s outdoors. You get the wind in your hair, the rain, the sun. It’s a whole different feel,” said market manager Jane Lang. The second location in the parking lot along Paris Street at York Street is only open Thursday afternoons during the summer from 2-6 p.m. The year-round market is held every Saturday indoors at the Elm Place Mall downtown. Some vendors, like the Ugly Barn Farm, set up at both sites. Co-owner Brittany Rantala-Sykes told CTV News they’ve been selling at the farmers market for the last eight years. “We’re here for only four or five hours but the truth of the matter is we work all week to make this happen,” Rantala-Sykes said. “This is a fraction of the time that we’re here selling, but the reality is that it’s 40 hours of work that goes into it.” Ugly Barn Farm is a year-round mushroom farm with gourmet species that grow on wood rather than compost and manure. Lang said the size of the outdoor market is expected to grow throughout the summer. “It’s fun. You can get lunch, you can go to Bell Park, go for a swim, come back, get your veggies, your fruit and go home and have some healthy meals,” she said. “It’s nice and convenient and we have beautiful scenery when the sun is shining.” The appeal of the Thursday market is the outdoor feel – even if it is raining. “It’s really challenging when your income is totally reliant on the weather,” Rantala-Sykes said, adding that she still encouraged customers to come out to support the vendors. “We’ve got lots of farmers, lots of food here, outside at this market. Everybody has a tent, so if you bring an umbrella, you’ll be safe. I promise you won’t melt.” “We are a rain or shine market,” Lang said “The only thing that will close us down would be heavy winds or lightning.” On Thursday, all but one vendor had tent coverings. Kenny Wilson, owner of Sipping Viking, told CTV News he picked up the wrong bag, thinking it was his vendor tent. Soda made in Coniston “We’re in the middle of getting ready to move and I think we packed it,” Wilson said. “I think I’m going to sell a lot more pop here, even with this sad setup, than I’m going to at home.” Sipping Viking has a variety of craft sodas and sweet teas, made locally in Coniston. He was adamant he was not going for the pity sale. “My drinks speak for themselves. They’ve got a good flavour,” Wilson said. One of the biggest appeals for the market is supporting local farmers, producers, and businesses. “The Sudbury Market is an incubator for small businesses. If it wasn’t for the Sudbury Market, small businesses like mine wouldn’t have an opportunity to ... grow or connect with customers,” Wilson said. “We are all local families. Every farm here is supporting their family and it’s super important to support our community that way,” Lang said.
