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An enthusiastic crowd gathered Saturday for the first day of the Downtown Farmers Market, braving the rain to wander among the tented vendors and food booths on Pellissier Street.
““We definitely have a loyal customer base at the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market,” said Steve Green, general manager of the market. “It was a little rainy here, but we had a lot of spectators.
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“Opening day is always a special day of the year for us. We are all one big family here and we really enjoy coming back to downtown Windsor and eating fresh food together. Masu.”
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About 65 stalls line Pellissier between Wyandotte and Park, selling specialty items, arts and crafts.
And although the market is located in the heart of downtown Windsor, many of the attendees are from outside the area, Green said.
“We find that half of the people who come to the market are downtown residents who walk here. And about half of our crowd comes from the county,” he said. “When I looked at the data, I was really surprised to see so many people coming from all over the county.
“I think one of the reasons is the diversity of what we offer here. We have farmers coming in, which is an important core of the market, but we also have a good selection of ethnic foods. A wide variety of craftsmen gather here.
He said the eclectic mix of food and crafts meant there was always something interesting for visitors.
“I always tell people to only bring the amount they want to spend, and if they don't have the self-control to leave their debit card at home, because there are so many things they want.”
He said farmers markets have actually grown under the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers managed to comply with the restrictions and remain open.
“We've really seen a spike during the pandemic. We've really built up our customer base and crowd.”
The market will continue its Good Greens program this year. Any unpurchased food will be bought at the market and donated to the Downtown Mission and other organizations.
The market will be held every Saturday from 9am to 2pm until the end of October.
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