Othello Chamber of Commerce reflects on Farmers Market changes, results

With the cold weather setting in and another season come and gone, the Othello Chamber of Commerce wrapped up the annual Othello Farmers Market once again. The market saw a change in its usually scheduled day halfway through this past season, and with it came some new faces, both in patrons and in vendors.

“I have never seen so many people at the market,” said Bianca Mendoza, Othello Chamber of Commerce manager.

Formerly held on Saturdays, the Farmers Market was switched to Thursdays and the time changed to 3-7 p.m., in an effort to grow the venue even more.

“We wanted to try a different time,” Mendoza said. So the chamber sought input from vendors and patrons to come up with a new game plan for the market she explained.

Since its beginning in the 1990’s, the market had always been held on Saturdays. However over the years, traffic had slowly decreased, seeing fewer shoppers which led to reduced participation from regular vendors.

But after the switch to Thursdays, the market began to attract a new kind of crowd Mendoza said. People picking up their kids from school or driving home from work began to take notice as they drove by it during their commute.

The chamber also brought in bouncy houses and different events throughout the market season, making it a fun, family friendly attraction.

The change in time also attracted a variety of more vendors, Mendoza explained. At times there were up to 14 as apposed to just the customary four.

The week before Halloween was the last market of the year. The chamber held a costume contest, a trunk-or-treat, and vendors passed out candy. The event attracted about 300 patrons, which was the largest amount of people Mendoza had ever seen at the farmers market before.

As for the future of the farmers market…”I think we will keep it on Thursdays,” Mendoza said.

The first day of market in 2018 is scheduled for the Thursday following the Fourth of July, and will run until the last Thursday of October. The hours of operation will again be from 3-7 p.m. at Pioneer Park on Main Street.

Mendoza hopes to see the market continue to grow even more next season.

“I just really want to reach out to more vendors,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, so it’s really cool to have people enjoy it and commit to vending each week.”

Those interested in becoming a vendor may contact the chamber at (509)488-2683 or visit their website at www.chamberofothello.org for vendor application information.