Business

Following winter success, Riverhead Farmers Market to head outdoors

Grace Marie Longinetti of Copia Granola and Granola Bars at farmers market Saturday. She's following the market outdoors next week. (Credit: Tim Gannon)
Grace Marie Longinetti of Copia Granola and Granola Bars at farmers market Saturday. She’s following the market outdoors next week. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

Copia also operates out of the Calverton business incubator, and Ms. Longinetti, who is from Melville, said the winter market gave them a chance to meet new customers from all over the East End.

Mr. Pickersgill said the BID is giving vendors from the indoor market the first option to participate in the outdoor market and asked them to decide by this week. More than 20 have signed up already, he said.

There also are a lot of businesses at the incubator who are interested in participating in the summer market, he said. Some of the vendors who had booths at the market earlier in the year have since gotten their own stores, according to Mr. Pickersgill.

The indoor market had 30 indoor vendors per week and in nice weather, about five outdoors.

With temperatures starting to rise, “There’s no way I want to have it inside in the summer,” Mr. Pickersgill said. The crowds at the market have been steady for the last couple of weeks, but not as crowded as they were in February and March when the market first opened, he said. Still, some of the vendors have said this was the most money they’ve ever made at a farmers market, Mr. Pickersgill said.

In addition to the Saturday outdoor market in the spring and summer, the BID also will continue to have the Thursday farmers market it has held for many years in the parking lot south of the former Sweezy’s building, Mr. Pickersgill said.

While the indoor market was at the end of its run on Saturday, it still had some new fans.

Tom and Erin Romano of Medford said this was their first trip to the Riverhead Farmers Market Saturday.

“I kept meaning to come, but I work on Saturdays,” Tom said. “I like it a lot.”

He had just bought some asparagus and was heading for the locally made root beer.