By Patrick McCallister
For Hometown News
ORMOND BEACH - The Ormond Beach Farmers Market is closed. For now.
"We decided to close for the summer and reopen in October," Maggie Sacks, executive director of Ormond Beach Mainstreet said. The not-for-profit corporation runs the market in Rockefeller Gardens. "Probably the first week of October."
Ms. Sacks, who announced her retirement this week, said the Thursday market draws about 25 vendors and 300 shoppers a week. It's open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendance drops sharply in summer.
"The heat is a factor," Ms. Sacks said. "Some people don't like to shop in the heat of the summer."
Another factor is migration.
"Some of the vendors go north for the summer," Ms. Sacks said. "Some of the customers go north in the summer, too."
The market is at the Rockefeller Gardens on the Halifax River, the southeast corner of the Granada Bridge. It's been around for about three years. This is the first summer it'll close.
"We gave it a great deal of thought," Ms. Sacks said. "Each summer has been a challenge."
Thursday, June 21, was the last day the market was open. It will most likely, reopen on Oct. 4. In addition to fruits and vegetables, baked good and other foods, the market has some locally-made art and craft products, too. It also features something unusual for farmers markets.
"We always have live music," she said. "We've always had live music."
The market will likely be open from October to May from now on.
The market's website is www.ormondbeachfarmersmarket.com.