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Reni Ness and Leigh Payne run I'm Home Cookin' and sell homemade preserves at the market. (Photo Holly Miyasaki)
Local vendors and artisans now have a place to sell their goods throughout the chilly winter months.
Grandville Market held its first weekend with a handful of artisans and vendors offering passersby farm fresh eggs, jewelry, art, buns and baking, preserves and produce.
The market is held in the former Tomato King building, across from the SPCA on Casorso.
“Basically we’re starting from the ground floor,” says Margot Sawka, organizer of Grandville Market and former owner of Tomato King. “We decided to start really small.
“A lot of vendors, once the season ends, still want to participate in markets so we’re offering a venue for that.”
And vendors are jumping on the opportunity.
Kim Loffler sells produce at Grandville Market. (Photo Holly Miyasaki)
Kim Loffler, returned to her home country after living in Montana for 20 years, and sells seasonal produce like apples, squash and plums at Grandville Market.
“I think not only is it to provide quality products to the public, but it gives the vendors a venue to market their specialty items and this is a great location,” she says. “It’s great for the vendors to have the support system for networking.”
One such vendor planning to use this support system is TJ’s Catering Company, which can be found in a large aluminum food trailer in the parking lot. The caterers offer everything from breakfast wraps and bagels to homemade soups and sandwiches.
“Everything’s farm fresh vegetables,” says Theresa Delorme, one of the owners. “Eventually we’d like to do free range eggs and bread from (Grandville Market), everything’s going to come from inside the building later on–it will benefit everybody.”
Even local charities can benefit from the market–Sawka says non-profit organizations are welcome to hold tables at the market for free.
“We’re providing what we call an awareness table,” she explains, adding the groups can provide information on their work or use the space for a fundraising campaign.
Sawka says she hopes to see the market grow in size as more vendors are added and more products become available for shoppers. She reports interest from throughout the valley,
The Grandville Market runs Fridays-Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. TJ’s Catering Company is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. six days a week. Find it at 3790 Casorso Rd.
For more information about participating in the market, e-mail Sawka at grandvillemarket@gmail.com
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