The Squamish Farmer's Market has come into bloom with more than 24 vendors - many bringing in the fruits and vegetables shoppers crave. And shoppers came in droves.With the addition of new vendors from the Okanagan, seasonal treats including fresh cherries can be found alongside other July offerings such as potatoes and green onions.Okanagan vendor Daljit Randhawa said Squamish is an easy stop since she heads to the Whistler Farmer's Market on Sundays. Saturday (July 12) was her first day at the Squamish market, and she quickly attracted a stream of people to her zucchinis and cherries. The selection will only get better come August, she said, with the addition of newly-ripened peaches and pears."We'll be bringing more variety and more vegetables," she said.There was also plenty of produce available from local vendors including Good Times Farming in Squamish Valley and the Garden Centre Florist in Garibaldi Estates. All the fresh food is enough to pull people away from the grocery store giants and into the fresh air market."You need the farmer to survive. If the farmer is not coming, then it's dead," said Karsten Schellhas, who sells bison meat at the market. He said there is a noticeable spike in shoppers when the produce appears. Since the market opened in mid-May, the fruits and vegetables have been a long time coming. Spring shoppers would find pastries, preserves and specialty products at the market, but not necessarily enough to bring them back week after week. But now local support is increasing, said Schellhas. "There are more people, mostly Squamish residents. Less tourists," he said. "We get very good support from the people of Squamish."Although he said he had noticed fewer tourists at the market than years prior, Schellhas noted the market is beginning to eke out a niche among American visitors who are often drawn to Squamish for its outdoor activities such as climbing."Those people who like to climb, they like healthy food, organic food," he said. Several shoppers were also gearing up for the Squamish Triathlon on Sunday (July 13), sharing their weekend plans as they made their orders.Paradise Valley Bath and Body vendor and market organizer Bill Brumpton said the market is beginning to live up to plans of becoming a social meeting place."What we've tried to accomplish with the market is a place to go on Saturday and sort of hang out visit your friends and buy produce," he said.Chairs and tents in the centre of the market along with live music make it easy for visitors to stop and catch up, he said. The homemade pastries and Pemberton coffee make this break even more enjoyable. There are also on-the-spot massages and fresh plants to choose from.For those people who checked out the market in its early weeks, Brumpton said it's time to come back and take a second look."It's just starting to kick in," he said. "We're just trying to get the message out that there is produce, it is happening."The Squamish Farmer's Market runs every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. by Pavilion Park downtown.
