Visitors who want to attend the monthly Farmer’s Market in Lakewood Ranch may have to go elsewhere soon.
For the past year, a farmer’s market has been held on Main Street on the fourth Saturday of the month, offering visitors the opportunity to buy fresh, fish, sauces, cheese, fashions and more.
A group of 40 to 50 vendors set up along the storefronts and restaurants with the aim of appealing to a variety of shoppers.
But soon, this outdoor market could be a thing of the past.
Event organizer Jennifer McCafferty, owner of Jen’s Markets & Events, said she’s been told by property managers the market does not bring value to the street.
She disagrees.
“The merchants like us here,” McCafferty said. “Whenever we are here, we bring people into the market and into the street. They’ll go and visit the restaurants and visit the other stores, and we even invite the merchants on the streets to talk about their services and merchandise.”
McCafferty also said visitors seem to like the event.
“Every time we’ve been on the street, the community has asked us, ‘Why aren’t you here at least twice a month or more?’ ” she said.
One more Farmer’s Market is planned for Sept. 26. McCafferty said this is the last one of her contract. She said she hopes to have a decision by the end of this month.
In the meantime, to be safe, she said she’s already teamed up with Rosa Fiorelli Winery in East Bradenton. She is holding a winery market there on Oct. 10.
She is also looking for a new location in the Lakewood Ranch area if the Main Street deal does not happen.