The vendors enjoy meeting people at the downtown farmers market

By Miwa Takahashi

Sept. 17, 2018

Charlottetown farmer’s market on Lower Queen Street. opened on July 1 and will close on Sept. 23rd. 

More than 70 vendors are involved in the event. 

Jennifer Lavoie is one of vendors. 

She is working at Butcher and Butcher, Charlottetown’s gourmet butcher shop. 

This year for is their fourth, said Lavoie. 

 “The most difficult part of selling stuff is weather, especially windy days and really hot days, like beach days.” 

However she enjoys meeting many people from around the world. 

Lavoie hopes the weather is good during the market. 

Leona Arsenault runs her shop named PhoArts Visual Images to sell pictures taken by her. 

She is a professional photographer who aims to create high quality digital imagery that will engage hearts and minds. 

Arsenault said she has been at the market for a few years. 

“It is nice meeting people. I sometimes have a big conversation with people from different areas and countries, so I enjoy talking people.”

Her price are low, so she doesn’t think people have a problem with price. 

“ However, usually people have traveled, so they don’t have any space to bring back frame pictures.” 

Pamela McKay and Dave McKay sell woodworks. 

This year is the second for them. 

The reason for joining the market is they can show what they make and sell, said Pam. 

“The bowls and wood pieces we make are down at our home in the garage.”

They get raw wood and cut it in pieces using a chain saw and band saw.

The pieces are turned on a lathe called green turning.

“When the shape is achieved, the wood form is then painted with a product called end sealer. The wood shape is then put on the shelf to dry for six to eight months. Once the wood shape is satisfactory, it is then off to have the finishing put on.”

They said their products are selling well because they charge a reasonable price.

But, she has a wish for the market. 

“I supposed that they can start earlier, maybe June instead of July  because we have a lot tourists coming in June. Also a lot of cruise ships coming had in June.”

Kimberly Davey deals with iced cookies. 

She is also the owner and coordinator of AT Your Service Creations, which is available to make events perfect by helping in every aspect of the planning, organizing and execution. 

This is the first year for Davey as a vendor, but she has been making cookies for seven years. 

Davey smiled at visitor and said. 

“It is yummy, I promise.”

She loves meeting people, so she enjoys business here. 

 “Personally, I think it should start earlier. and also it is very time consuming. I have family with small kids.” 

 Maria Maund, the project manager, said the market starts basically in July. 

“We don’t have space because there is another event on the street, DiverseCity, a week before, so we cannot have a market at the same time.”

DiverseCity is the annual multicultural street festival organized by the PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada. It also attracts many tourists.