Farmers' Market at X outgrows space, moves to Cyr Arena

Date: 5/4/2010

May 5, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD -- This year's Farmers' Market at the "X" has a new location and new vendors.

Market Manager Belle Rita Novak told Reminder Publications the move to the parking lot of Cyr Arena inside Forest Park was necessary because the market had outgrown its previous location in the parking lot of Trinity Methodist Church on Sumner Avenue.

Customers who drive to the market will be exempt from the entrance fee when coming through the main gate on Sumner Avenue. The Trafton Road entrance will be open and it provides direct access to the market.

She added that by using the Trafton Road entrance, drivers could avoid some of the traffic if turning left out of the park onto Sumner Avenue.

This year the market will take place every Tuesday from May 3 to the third week of November from 12:30 to 6 p.m. It will feature plants, fresh local produce, milk, yogurt, meat, honey, soap, baked goods, eggs, fresh flowers, cheese and prepared foods.

Novak anticipated there would be 10 to 12 vendors at the first market. By the height of the growing season there should be about 26, she said.

She added there will even be some fresh produce at the market at this time of the year as Red Fire Farm in Granby grows in hot houses in the spring.

She added six new vendors this year, but turned down six.

"It's very different than from when we opened and I had to beg people," she said with a laugh. The reason to refuse a vendor's participation is due to her policy of protecting the established vendors and their product lines.

For more information go to www.thefarmersmarketatthex.com or call Novak at 737-1724.