Sudbury market reports higher traffic in 2016

The final report won't be presented to city council until November, but Meredith Armstrong, the city's tourism manager said that she is "very pleased" with the attendance at the Sudbury market this summer.

"We know from the preliminary data that we did have more consumer traffic and more vendors involved this year than we did last year," Armstrong said.

The city made changes to the market's fee structure in May, looking to increase the number of vendors, andboost communityparticipation. Fees for stalls were cut in half, and a more flexible structure was put in place to allow for occasional sellers.

Armstrong thinks that some fresh faces behind the booths injected some life into the market, as well.

"The great thing is we had lots of new vendors,lot's of young entrepreneurs, new farmers, new culinary offerings, crafters, that kind of thing."

Armstrong also credits the city's marketing department with contributing interesting ideas.

"For instance, when graphic-con was on at the arena across the street, we made sure that vendors were aware," Armstrong said, "and we had vendors who were dressed up as their favourite cartoon or graphic novel character."

An official report on the 2016 farmers market season will be presented to city council on Nov. 22.

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