Chamber celebrates farmers market reopening, 15 years

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Sanibel Island Farmers Market back to the island scene on Jan 22 with a ribbon-cutting, confetti cannon and ceremonial ringing of the cowbell The occasion also celebrated the 15 years that the market has been operating on Sanibel previously at city hall, now temporarily moved to the parking lot at Jerry's Foods

“What a joyful occasion, so meaningful to islanders and also visitors as we continually move toward normalcy here on the islands,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said “I certainly wasn’t the only one excited to be mingling with the community in a way we’d been doing for 15 years ”

The market started in 2008 with 15 vendors, the first of nine markets developed by Local Roots principals and islanders Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura

“Back in those days, we would ring a cowbell specially painted by artist Leoma Lovegrove to signal the opening of the market every Sunday morning in season,” Baer said “We thought we’d bring back the tradition this year to celebrate our 15th year opening in October Of course, that got delayed, but we couldn't be more thrilled to be back open this month, thanks to Jerry’s and the enthusiastic support of the community ”

Opening day this year happened on Jan. 15, with M a y o r H o l l y S m i t h s o u n d i n g t h e L o v e g r o v e b e l l Ringing in the new during the ribbon cutting a week later, Sanibel artist Rachel Pierce painted a new bell and personally clanged it that morning

Baer said that although the market necessarily shrank in size from up to 60 vendors pre-hurricane to about 25, it attracted about 350 people, including tourists for whom the market has also become a well-loved tradition Most of the vendors hoped to come back, but given the s p a c e , s h e a n d V e n t u r a p i c k e d p r o d u c t s t h e y f e l t islanders needed most right now, such as prepared meals and fresh produce Some of the vendors have been with them since the beginning

The market will run through May this year, as usual Baer hopes to return to their original venue eventually, but for now is awaiting city approval.

Local Roots has reopened six of its nine markets poststorm, including one in the Sanibel Outlets parking lot It also attracts a lot of islanders because it brings in a different set of vendors, including Spoondrift Island Bowls, which closed its shop at the Bailey’s Shopping Center after the hurricane

Jerry's Foods is at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel