Another season of the Alliance Farmers Market begins Saturday with at least 30 vendors

ALLIANCE – Fresh produce and baked goods return Saturday for another season of the Alliance Farmers Market at a new location.

The market runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until Oct.1 in the grassy lot at the northeast corner of State Street and Union Avenue.

More:Alliance Farmers Market moves to corner of State Street, Union Avenue

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Cinmarron Ney-George, manager, of the Alliance Farmers Market, said there will be live music, some new vendors and plenty of familiar faces. At least 30 vendors will participate in this year's market.

"You can come out and share in your local economy, share with locals you live with," she said.

The market also will sell T-shirts and reusable shopping bags.

"You can see the farmers who grow the food that you can eat and it's super fresh. And the bakers who spent all of their time on their baked goods," Ney-George added.

Making the move

Ney-George acknowledged not everyone was thrilled with the location change but she said it should increase visibility for the vendors, "who have to make money."

She said some people wanted to see the market return to city's downtown, where it was held for years before a move to the Giant Eagle parking lot on West State Street. The market is in its 14th season.

"It had a certain atmosphere and a certain vibe," Ney-George said. "But the market wasn't being seen, and there was a drop-off in attendance. The vendors weren't making money."

She hopes the new location will return "some of the diehard market fans when it was downtown" because it is more centrally located and near the hospital.

Managed differently

Another change, as previously reported, is that Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce is managing the market. It previously was managed by volunteers.

Chamber President Mark Locke said the market will move to the new location so it has space to grow. 

More:Food desert in north Alliance creates trouble for residents

"The area is located halfway between downtown and West State Street, so it is a great compromise," said Locke, who visits the market weekly. 

He added: "The market provides fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables at a very reasonable prices to clientele that may not normally have access to fresh produce."

For more information or questions, visit facebook.com/alliancefarmersmarket or email farmersmarketalliance@gmail.com.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP.