Farmers Market hits North
Published 10:56 pm Friday, July 10, 2009
Need fresh grown produce?
What about homemade fudge?
Or, do you need a new decorative piece for your home?
All of the above are available at the new Farmers’ Market at the Shoppes on the Village Green.
“We thought this would be something that would draw people in,” said Ruth DiGeorge, owner of A Tisket, A Tasket. “It’s really a neat mix of stuff – a little bit of everything.”
DiGeorge, along with Kathy Flythe of Katody’s and Brenda Gillihan of Bon Vivant, came up with the idea of creating a North Suffolk Farmers’ Market to entice customers to check out the Governor’s Pointe area.
“We realized there wasn’t a Farmers’ Market anywhere in the area, none in North Suffolk, Churchland, Western Branch,” DiGeorge said. “So, we thought, why not let people see what we have up here.”
Every Friday night in July, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., more than 20 vendors of various crafts and foods are setting up shop in the courtyard at the Shoppes on the Village Green.
Fresh seafood, produce, cakes and Italian ices were just a few of the products on display Friday night. There was also live music for shoppers to enjoy while eating dinner on the courtyard benches.
Last week was the market’s first run, and more than 400 people came out to shop.
“The people here are so nice. It’s probably one of the easiest Farmer’s Markets I’ve done,” said Mike Tignor, who operates Pearl’s Market, a fresh produce stand. Tignor routinely works the Farmers’ Market circles, with stands in Yorktown, Hampton and Poquoson.
“Everybody is so cooperative and friendly,” Tignor said of the North Suffolk market. “It’s just wonderful over here. The crowd is just really nice people.”
DiGeorge said they picked Friday nights as to not take shoppers away from downtown Suffolk’s Friday morning and Saturday Farmers’ Market. She added that considering last weekend was a holiday weekend, they are hoping to have more shoppers Friday night.
The Shoppes on the Village Green are located at 1900 Governors Pointe Drive, Suffolk Va. For more information about the Farmers’ Market, call 238-3883.