Produce growers and local artisanal crafters who’d like to sell goods at the Downtown Waxahachie Farmers Market in the 2021 season are invited to an informational orientation.
Set for 5:30 p.m. on April 15, 2021 at the new site for the farmers market, 701 Howard Road just south of Downtown Waxahachie [map], the meeting is open to anyone who’s sold at the market in the past or is considering selling there this year.
Anita Simpson, downtown development director for the City of Waxahachie, says the meeting will include a walk-through of the new farmers market facility and a chance to ask questions about the market and learn from seasoned sellers.
“You’ll be able to tour the site, possibly pick out your booth space, turn in your paperwork and ask any questions,” Anita says to potential vendors.
Additionally, vendors can weigh in on decisions that need to be made for the season, such as how to budget for advertising the venue and what special events should be planned.
Anita says the market is open to local farmers and artisans — anyone who grows food in the area or locals who make their own goods to sell, such as baked goods, handmade soaps, and locally-made crafts — even dog treats.
“We have a vendor who does goat milk soaps; we have a vendor who does jewelry. We have vendors who do sewn goods such as aprons and stuffed animals. We have a vendor who grinds their own grains and makes their own flours and baking mixes and those kinds of things. We have a loose tea vendor, or we did last year, and I expect most of them will come back,” Anita says.
Booth fees amount to $125 for the 26-week season. “That equals out to about $4.80 a week. So, even if you only come half of those, like 13 times, you’re still paying less than $10 a week, and you can’t get you can’t go anywhere else for that. So, we don’t prorate — we don’t give a discount if you only expect to be there part of the time. Our fee is so low that that everybody pays the same thing and you can come as many times as you want,” Anita says.
The market is moving from its former location across the street from city hall to make way for a new annex to be constructed. The new location on Howard Road will also accommodate parking better and has plenty of space for any special cookouts or other attractions that the vendors plan.
“I would strongly encourage if you’re interested at all in the possibility of being a vendor at the market this year, come to the meeting because you’ll be able to meet other vendors,” Anita says. “Some of the other vendors have been there since the market started, so they’re a great wealth of information, and you’ll be able to ask any questions and find out and see if it’s the right thing for you. We’ve got a huge building, we’re going to have plenty of room. And we’d like to have as great of market as we can this year.”
This will be the 18th year for the market.
The 2021 Downtown Waxahachie Farmers Market is set to open on May 8, 2021 and be open on every Saturday through October 30, 2021.