The Rural Voice, 1990-08, Page 29spend a lot of time talking with
people: turn your customers into
acquaintances."
Vendors at these two district
farmers' markets cite many reasons
for their participation: it's excellent
advertising simply to set up a table;
customer loyalty leads to repeat
business; the social aspect counts for
a lot — there's a camaraderie that
develops between vendor and
customer, and among the vendors
themselves. Often participating at a
farmers' market presents still other
opportunities, as John and Jessie
Bodnarchuk have found. John mans
a table in Rainy River, while Jessie
sells their ceramics at the Fort
Frances market. "My wife does
beautiful work and everybody knows
it," says John. "We've got invitations
to go all over — Morson, Nestor
Falls, Sioux Narrows, Dryden,
Vermilion Bay, Kenora. We usually
sell right out." John offers a single
piece of advice: "If you like to do
something and you do good work, do
it. But you've got to keep at it.
That's the best advertising: just be
there."
And being there, after all, is more
than half the fun, for buyers and
sellers alike. The Rainy River
Farmers' Market has been around
only half as long as its counterpart in
Fort Frances, but it has already de-
veloped a character all its own. Its
vendors are hoping a grant will come
through this summer, enabling them
to construct an open-air pavilion.
Every market day, a group of young
people entertains market -goers with
live music; impromptu jam sessions
happen when visiting fiddle players or
other musicians can't resist joining in.
At the Clover Valley Farmers'
Market, locals schedule a regular stop
in between garage sales, or on their
way out of town to the lake. The
weekend wouldn't be complete with-
out a stroll around the market, to
catch up with friends and see what's
new on the tables.
No matter where you go, right
across this province, farmers' markets
really do have something for every-
one. They have freshness, they have
fun; but most of all, farmers' markets
have flavour.°
HURON COUNTY MUSEUM
"and FRIENDS"
6TH ANNUAL GUILT SHOW
AUG. 4TH TO SEPT. 16TH
'QUILT IN A PILLOW DEMONSTRATION' AUG. 17 (10-12 & 2-4)
'FOLDED STAR QUILT DEMONSTRATION' SEPT. 5TH (10-4)
REGULAR MUSEUM HOURS AND ADMISSION APPLY
110 NORTH ST., GODERICH
524-2686
CO.OP
ITPAYS!
FERTILIZE
FORAGE
Fertilizing forage
pays greater dividends with
• better stands
• increased yield
• improved drought resistance
• healthier plants
• higher quality hay or pasture
• improved winter survival
SUMMER FORAGE SEED BOOKING
Book now for the lowest price
on CO -OP's exclusive forage varieties
or choose from a complete line of public varieties
TEESWATER DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE
Teeswater 519-392-6862
LUCKNOW DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE
Lucknow 519-529-7953 Ripley 519-395-3654
NORTH WELLINGTON CO-OPERATIVE SERVICES
Harriston 519-338-2331 Mount Forest 519-323-1271
AUGUST 1990 25