The Wolfville Farmers’ Market will be opening the doors to its much anticipated new home at the DeWolfe building on Elm Ave May 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cake will be served, Mike Aubé will perform live and over sixty farmers, chefs and artisans will offer fresh local product.
The 9000 square foot turn-of-the-century apple storage facility has undergonea $825,000+ renovation to transform it into a structurally sound, purpose-built market space, complete with full accessibility, washrooms, seating area, sinks for food safety and a large space that will be made available to community groups outside of market hours.
“This is the day that we have been eagerly anticipating and working very hard toward for some time. We are very proud that the Wolfville Farmers’ Market can offer our customers the very best products that this area has to offer in a safe comfortable environment,” said Project Manager and Board President, Angela Patterson. “Many people have worked together to bring this project to this successful conclusion. Now we all can come together as a community to enjoy the fruits of our labour. We look forward to welcoming everyone on the 21st.”
“I am excited to welcome people into our new home this Saturday,” said Market Manager, Kelly Marie Redcliffe. “And look forward, also, to being part of the transition. Every week there will be new things to see, whether it is the installation of new vendor booths, or a stage, or landscaping.”
The Wolfville Farmers’ Market started out with three vendors working from the trunks of their vehicles in 1992 and has occupied a number of locations over its 18-year existence, but this will be the organization’s first permanent year-round space, bringing a new level of service to customers as well as providing convenient, comfortable access to quality local product.
The DeWolfe building will also bring extended hours. Starting June 1, the market will open on Wednesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. with over 40 vendors, alongside the Market Music Mélange, a new weekly live music night featuring local talent.
Acadia University signed a 20-year no-cost lease for the DeWolfe Building with the Wolfville Farmers' Market in October 2010 and ROSCOE Construction began the renovation project in November 2010.
The successful completion of the project has been made possible through the financial support of the The Dept of Agriculture ($250,000), ACOA ($250,000), The Municipality of Kings County ($25,000); the vendorship ($100,000), as well as over 145 community contributors ($61,000) plus one major contribution from anonymous Wolfville residents ($100,000). The balance of $39,000 will be raised through community fund raising.
The Wolfville Farmers' Market will have a grand opening celebration on June 29, 2011.
