Downtown Local Market back to Baker Street for 2013
By Nelson Daily Staff
It’s back after Nelson City Council approved the West Kootenay EcoSociety application to bring the Nelson Downtown Local Market back to Baker Street for 2013.
This is the fourth year the EcoSociety will coordinate a market on Wednesdays from June 12 to September 25 in the 400 block of Baker St.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Wednesday, the market will offer a mix of local produce, plants, prepared foods, body care, and hand-made arts and crafts. Customers can rest assured that they are supporting the local economy due to the fact that 80 percent of each vendor’s wares must be made locally to be sold at the market.
EcoSociety’s Markets Director, Jesse R. Woodward, will work with vendors, business owners, and city agencies to ensure that the Downtown Market has a positive impact on Nelson’s downtown core.
“We’re so thrilled to be back on Baker Street,” Woodward said.
“The 400 block of Baker is the true home of the Downtown Local Market. The market brings many positive spin-off benefits to Baker Street as a whole.”
A recent study by the University of Northern British Columbia showed that BC’s farmers markets add an additional $65.3 million dollars into BC’s local economies. Another study published in 2006 study found that 74.5 percent of people who go to farmers markets in BC intend to shop in other businesses on the same trip.
Woodward said the EcoSociety is looking forward to working with businesses to capitalize on the hundreds of extra customers the market brings to downtown.
“We are going to advertise Wednesdays as ‘Shop Local’ day. We want people to come and support the Downtown Market but we also want people to support Baker Street,” he explained.
“Customers will really appreciate the quality and diversity of the offerings at the market, especially in combination with Baker Street’s amazing retail selection.”
The Downtown Market is completely sold out this year, with over fifty vendors scheduled for full-season spots, while another 35 vendors will be called upon to fill occasional vacancies.
The Downtown Market has again been organized into product sections that should make it easier for customers to navigate the market and find what they need. Eggs and honey will be available to complement seasonal fruits and vegetables from the region.
Crafts will include hand-made hats and shoes, locally made clothing and jewellery, and an array of body and home care products.
The West Kootenay EcoSociety operates the Downtown Nelson Local Market as a project to promote local food security, relocalization of our economy and to create a meeting place for arts, culture and community networking.
The EcoSociety also runs the Cottonwood Community Market at Cottonwood Falls Park on Saturdays, and the monthly Friday night street festivals known as MarketFest.
