Kamloops Farmers Market on April 20, 2019.

(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - The Westsyde neighbourhood of Kamloops will have a regular farmers’ market starting at the end of this month.

The Westsyde farmers’ market will begin on July 28, and run every other Sunday until late October.

Anne Louwersheimer, the organizer of the upcoming market, says she realized the need for a farmers’ market in the north Kamloops community. She brings her woodworking business, Lou's Hut Woodworks, to other local markets and figured it was time to start selling her goods in her own community.

“I've been going to a few markets this year with my business and actually I started going to the Dallas and Barnhartvale farmers’ market, and I thought 'That could be a good idea to do through our church as well,’” Louwersheimer says.

Louwersheimer says she brought the idea forward to the Westsyde Fellowship Church, which agreed it was a good way to connect and support the Westsyde community. The Westsyde farmers’ market will run on alternating Sundays from the Dallas and Barnhartvale market.

“There are a few markets that run once in the spring and once before Christmas, but not a continual every second-week type thing,” Louwersheimer says. “People won't have to go to downtown or all the way to Dallas and Barnhartvale.”

The Westsyde market will help fill a gap that was left by the closure of the North Shore farmers’ market nearly seven years ago. The old farmers’ market ran from 2006 until 2012 when it shut down due to a lack of customers.

Peter Mutrie, who was the executive director for the North Shore Business Improvement Association at the time, says the market tried everything to stay open.

“We tried three different locations, we tried all the farmers, we put it at time slots that would not conflict with the other farmers market downtown,” says Mutrie. “We put a good effort in, we asked good questions and adapted to all the pieces that we could, but at that time we didn't hit critical mass. For the effort the (Business Improvement Association) was putting in, we couldn't see the benefits.”

Mutrie is hopeful the new farmers’ market will see success due to the larger population in the Westsyde and Batchelor Heights area.

The new market will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every other Sunday at the Westsyde Fellowship Baptist Church. According to Louwersheimer, the later time slot will attract people who have gone away for the weekend, and offer them an opportunity for fresh produce and locally made goods.

“Westsyde is a different community. A lot of people go away for the weekend, so we thought it might be nice at the end of the weekend as people are coming in, driving through and they see it, they can pick up some fresh produce or whatever they want before the week starts,” she says.

Although the area hasn't been formally mapped out, Louwersheimer expects that approximately 30 vendors can fit on the grassy lawn, with extra space available in the parking lot if need be.

Louwersheimer is not yet sure of what kind of goods will be featured. She is hopeful that the market will be a popular spot and hopes to bring in food trucks and a variety of vendors.

Vendors can apply for a table for $15, with those proceeds going back to the church.

Parking is available on site. You can check out all the dates and sign up as a vendor here.

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