ITHACA, N.Y. — In just a few days, the Ithaca Farmers Market will be bustling again on Steamboat Landing with vendors selling produce, handcrafted goods, and delicious food. The market officially kicks off its outdoor season Saturday, April 6.
With increasing visitors and several waterfront development projects happening around Steamboat Landing, the market has announced it has some exciting updates of its own on the horizon — firstly, tuning up parking. During peak season, up to 8,000 people attend the market on an average weekend. Despite the traffic, the pavilion hasn’t been updated in quite a while.
Market Manager Becca Rimmel said updating the parking lot is their first priority. The lot in its current state wasn’t designed to handle the amount of traffic the market sees on a typical weekend. Plans for the lot include updating the design and installing a permanent surface that would allow for easier access by cars, buses, shuttle services, pedestrians, and others.
“We’re hoping that we can make our parking lot so it’s easier for us to maintain, but also so that it’s more accessible and easier to navigate for folks,” said Rimmel. “We’re hoping to install some pickup and drop off areas, as well as reorientate the parking lot so people can see where they’re going.”
Rimmel said she hopes the updates will make it more accessible for people with lower mobility to visit the market, as well as make it easier to quickly pick up groceries.
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If all goes well with the parking lot, the market is considering to re-envision the actual pavilion to provide more support for vendors and community members. The market was built and updated by vendors, Rimmel said, and they will continue to have a large part in the design process to preserve the character of the market that Ithacans know and love. Community members will also have opportunities to participate.
“I think a lot of customers don’t realize that our market is a cooperative, so anything that has changed here over the years has really been a project of the vendors that are selling here,” said Rimmel.
Possible future updates to the pavilion include winterization, expansion, and improved event space, a news release from the Ithaca Farmers Market said.
Additionally, services to support vendors and community members have been proposed such as additional business incubation services, a commercial kitchen, community educational activities, increased food access for vulnerable communities and more.
Rimmel said she thinks the market has a fantastic season ahead.
“We have an amazing diversity of farmers, artisans, and chefs here. I’d say if folks are interested in coming out this weekend or next, we’ll have local musicians, as usual, and then we’ll have our old favorite vendors as well and some really fantastic new vendors,” said Rimel.
So far, the weather looks good for Saturday. The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures will be in the mid-50s and partly sunny.
The Saturday market will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at Steamboat Landing at 545 Third St., and the Sunday market will start on May 5. The Dewitt Park market will begin April 30 and the East Hill Plaza market begins May 1. For more information visit www.ithacamarket.com.