* * Grand Opening * *

Setup

The morning sun was drying the dew on the grass and it was a promising start into a great day. Rain was predicted only for the afternoon.

The market was supposed to open at 9:00 a.m. However, Colleen and I arrived early at about 7:30 a.m., because the "early bird" catches the best spot!

Overview of the setting

The market is located in the beautiful, lush green park of Holders House, St. James. The stalls can be placed generously, so that nobody has to kling too close to the neighbour as at some other venues. The centre of the market is a Café with plenty outdoor seating. However, there was no coffee available in the Café, but at an adjacent van (see last picture below). Instead, inside the Café there were fruit juices, fruit salads, other beverages as well as fishcakes and fishcutters available. The fruit juices ran out early, but I am sure that will improve next time, as it was a learning experience for all stakeholders.

The official part...

The market was of such an importance to the island that even two Government Ministers came in order to officially open the market with a short speach. The Minister of Commerce and Trade (second from left, with tie) and the Minister of Health (third from right). The Minister for Agriculture was excused by the two officials because he had to prepare for a journey abroad scheduled for the next day. However, before the two Ministers it was certainly a priest, who spoke a prayer in order to start the market on the right foot.

On the very right in the picture is Jack Kidd, the major organiser and initiator of the "Holders Organic Farmers Market".

Kiddy's corner

The organisers did well in setting up a "kiddy corner", because the youngsters were coming in numbers along with their parents. This fact underlines the future development of this now weekly occuring event to be a family meeting point as well as for locals as for tourists. There was a goat, a sheep, two calfs and a jumping tent. I guess this part of the market will also undergo further extension, since it is very important to make the youth familiar will all aspects of agriculture in oder to make the "organic movement" a success. In my opinion it needs to be injected "into the genes" of the next generation.

The farmers...

These Ladies and Gentlemen are the main part of this market - the farmers. The markets' goal is to provide 100% organic produce in the long term. This is the declared goal of the organisers. At this time this is still a goal but not yet reality, although the way is paved it will take some time to get it done.

Let's go back to the roots! Let's go green!

... and their produce

And this is what it is about: Organic food!

Wouldn't it be great at some point in time if the produce would not need a label that says which sort of pesticides have been used on it or what kind of chemicals are contained in it, which came in by artificial fertilisers, because none of either kind would be in it?

Other vendors and their merchandise

In order to supply the market with more visitors, other vendors had also been invited to participate. A variety of goods were on display and for sale. This strategy works on other farmers markets as well since a while. It makes a lot of sense because a wider variety attracts more people. It is a typical "win-win-situation", it is to the benefit for EVERYONE.

The first customer came to Colleen Starck's stall a few minutes past 9 am. She had a look at the wonderful high quality cushions, lounge chair covers, "bottle waist coats" and her unique "zipper bags" (BTW, great gifts for Christmas!!!).

The "customers of tomorrow" were also very welcome and it turned out that some of them in fact are todays customers. This "young Lady" knew exactly what she wanted!

Here was the organic food for sale and found it's buyers easily. We saw a lot of people passing by with bags (certainly biodegradable bags!) or proper shopping baskets full of vegetables.

Curiosities

Probably the slowest coffee shop on the planet!!! I had two customers ahead of me in the queue and it took 15 minutes or more to get a coffee!!!
Must have a reason that "OPEN" is in a STOP-sign...