More vendors expected in 2021

By Angie Landsverk

The reconstruction of Waupaca’s Main Street means the Waupaca Farmers Market will have a different location for its upcoming season.

All events typically held in the city’s downtown will be relocating this year due to the project.

The market will take place at 205 W. Fulton St.

Located across from Kwik Trip, this is the former Midtown Motors property the city owns.

“Staff feels that this is a good alternative location as it provides enough space for the vendors while keeping them close to the downtown area, allowing visitors of the Farm Market to patronize the Main Street businesses,” City Administrator Aaron Jenson wrote in a memo to the mayor and common council.

The council approved the request last month.

The market will open for the season on Saturday, May 15.

It will have new hours this year of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Market Manager Lindsey Pietrzak said the market will flow in a one-way direction.

Social distancing will be followed, and vendors and customers will be required to wear masks.

Some events are planned at the market.

Jess Hess will play music from 10 a.m. to noon on both Saturday, July 24 and Saturday, Aug. 14.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, there will be a demonstration with Healthy Chef Shel.

Jenson said the city’s parking lots on Washington Street will be the recommended parking locations for farm market patrons.

The city has a parking lot across from the fire station and police department, and also has one at the corner of Washington and Granite streets.

Pietrzak said people may also park in the Rural Mutual Insurance lot next to the market.

Maps will be available on the market’s Facebook page and also at the farm market’s information stand.

Like last year, people may visit the market in person or order online and do a curbside pickup.

Vist www.waupacafarmersmarket.org to order online.

More vendors in 2021

The market will feature 10 new vendors this year.

“We have almost 30 vendors this year with a large variety of items,” Pietrzak told the Waupaca County Post.

There will be produce, meat, eggs, maple syrup, honey, fresh cut flowers, plant starts, canned goods, baked goods, hot fresh foods, a coffee and espresso bar, handcrafted wood items, jewelry, wool yarn, handmade dolls and toys, self-care items, crochet and macrame items, low waste home products, batting, roving and craft kits and more.

Cash, credit, debit, SNAP EBT and WIC will be the methods of payment.

She said the market will again have SNAP Double Dollar Days.

“During this incentive, we will match the amount of market tokens you purchase with your SNAP EBT card up to $10,” Pietrzak said. “This year, every Saturday we will have SNAP Double Dollar Days.”

Christi Gabrilska also spoke to the council about the market.

She is the FoodWise coordinator in Waupaca County.

Gabrilska is working with the farmers market to promote the SNAP EBT program.

Eight families consistently used the card at the market last year.

Gabrilska is collaborating with other partners that work with low income families to let them know SNAP benefits may be used at the market.

More than 5,000 households in the county are participating in the state’s FoodShare program, she said.

It was also noted the market’s EBT machine is not just for SNAP.

Anyone who visits the market may use it to swipe their credit or debit card and get tokens to use at the market.

Pietrzak shared information about last year’s market.

The 2020 farmers market averaged 13 vendors and 305 visitors per Saturday during its season, she told the council.

The number of vendors was a little less than the 2019 season, Pietrzak said.

That was due to the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the vendors made $68,633 during the 2020 season, she said.

Pietrzak said that was a $23,503 increase over the $45,000 vendors made during the 2019 season.