New location brings Lonsdale farmers market success
Brenda Hergenroder (far right) bags a pie for a customer, while Dori Vikla (second from right) talks to a customer about sweet corn. Hergenroder and Vikla said there has been a steady flow of customers every Friday during the farm and vendor market in Lonsdale. (Andrea Nelson photo)
Since moving to a new location earlier this year, the farmers market in Lonsdale has seen an increase in business.
“We’ve gotten a lot more traffic compared to last year,” said Cakes by Brenda owner Brenda Hergenroder.
Hergenroder, who is in her first year as organizer of the farmers market, said that last year the market was held in the Lonsdale American Legion parking lot.
When the former organizer and the American Legion decided not to continue the market this year, Hergenroder stepped in to see that Lonsdale continued to have a market.
She reached out to Terry and Mary Lou Bastyr, owners of Whistle Stop Tavern and Grill, to see if they would allow vendors the use of their land to the west of their restaurant. And since the beginning of June, the market has been a staple in that location every Friday.
“Terry and Mary Lou offered the use of the area and it’s worked out a lot better,” Hergenroder said. “We appreciate it.”
Hergenroder attributes the uptick in foot traffic and sales to the increased visibility from Highway 19, as well as increased promotion of the market on social media.
She also believes that people feel safe because it’s an outdoor market where the vendors are spread out and people can keep their social distance due to the COVID-19 health pandemic.
Dori Vikla, of Vikla Farm and Greenhouse, agrees with Hergenroder on why there has been an increase of sales at the market. She added she’s noticed more....
To see more on this story pick up the September 10, 2020 print edition of The New Prague Times or the Montgomery Messenger.
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