PANAMA CITY — The St. Andrews Waterfront Farmers Market has seen its share of ups and downs over the last few years, but organizers and vendors agree things are moving in the right direction.
With a focus on handmade, homemade and homegrown products, the market recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a huge spike in the number of vendors year over year.
Market coordinator John Carbullido took over in spring 2013 and has since seen the average vendor count increase from 22 to 55. The market also has moved from operating three seasons to being open year-round, with record-breaking attendance over the winter months, Carbullido said.
“Not everyone has what we have in this little community of St. Andrews,” Carbullido said. “The whole theme is to turn this into a destination.”
To build on that goal, the Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership, the group responsible for organizing events in the area, recently launched a Sunset Celebration Market, which takes place at the St. Andrews Marina every Thursday through October from 4 p.m. to sunset.
Partnership member Rick Ackerman, who runs the Betsy Ann Riverboat, said the event is intended to mimic the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square in Key West, with street performers, entertainers and vendors sprinkled throughout the community.
The Sunset Celebration kicked off last week, with about 20 vendors, but Ackerman hopes to see gradual growth through October to encourage both visitors and residents to enjoy the neighborhood’s shopping, dining and night life.
“We’re definitely seeing a re-emergence of tourism and local support as well,” Ackerman said. “St. Andrews is becoming quite a hot spot for food, entertainment and things to do.”
Jim Weslowski, a regular vendor at the St. Andrews Saturday market, said he has seen the area become busier and busier, especially over the last year.
“It’s a crowded location, but people love it,” said Weslowski, who owns and operates Weslowski Farms outside Vernon with his wife, Delia. “We go down there and don’t come up for air for four hours. We do extremely well. I give my customers a good product at a fair price.”
Over the years, the Weslowskis have been able to build up a steady base of loyal customers, many of whom have been invited to the pesticide-free farm to see from where the products come.
“They get to see the farm and know what’s going on, so they become loyal customers for me,” Weslowski said.
The Weslowskis harvest a variety of produce based on the season — basil, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, figs, peppers, oriental eggplant, pears, Chinese chestnuts, Satsuma oranges, Meyer lemons, and plenty of greens in the winter, to name a few.
Because it can be grown most of the year, basil is the biggest seller, Weslowski said, but the new winter market in St. Andrews also has added a boost to his sale of winter greens.
“Year-round helps out big time,” he said. “People love those greens.”
WANT TO GO?
- What: St. Andrews Waterfront Farmers Market
- Where: Smith’s Yacht Basin in St. Andrews
- When: Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
- What: Sunset Celebration Market
- Where: St. Andrews Marina
- When: Thursdays through October from 4 p.m. to sunset