- Collectivité
- 1984-
The Grand Manan Farmer's Market Association was started as a Bicentennial Project in 1984 by Pam Cronk and her sister-in-law, Marilyn Cronk. They contacted local gardeners and artists, made their own local Bi-Laws and former the Grand Manan Farmer's Market Association. Reg Flagg was President; Marilyn Cronk was Vice President; Pam Cronk was Secretary; and Joyce Flagg was Treasurer.
The "Farmer's Market" is located on the parking lot between the Business Centre (130 Route 776) and the Satellite Courthouse building owned by the Village of Grand Manan ( 126 Route 776).
The first products available at the Market were as follows: Reg Flagg had apples from his orchard and farm produce; Joyce Flagg sold cooking and jams and pies; Faith Lambert sold donuts; Peter and Marilyn Cronk had strawberries, farm produce and apples; Dennis Ingersoll had eggs and farm produce and Marion Ingersoll had crafts; Robert Moses had farm produce; Pam Cronk had hand knit sweaters. (Pam Cronk would later start "Whale Cove Knitters". She employed local knitters by supplying the yarn and having them knit from their homes, and kept a backyard shop from which to sell the sweaters.) In the first year, all the vendors wore Bicentennial clothing. When the market started there were 20 or so vendors at peak season. In 2006 there was an average of 12, and featured mainly arts and crafts. Market hours were initially 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, from end of June until Thanksgiving. It is not clear when the hours changed to be open from 10 - 12 from end of June until mid September as it is now in 2006.
Normally held outside, the market occasionally moved into the empty North Head School building ( 130 Route776), which was located beside the outdoor venue, during poor weather. Entertainment was often available in the form of performances by local musicians Barb Small, Deverne Green Jr., Merle Savoy, and Harry Green. In 2005, Audrey and James Ingalls and Heidi Lahey entertained on the melodica and 2 violins. The local musicians came and performed as they wanted. Sometimes they were promoting the sale of their new tape.
In 1994, Charlotte County Community Futures became involved with the market by giving it a face lift and providing some direction for the future. They built covered, lighted stalls for the vendors and the Grand Manan Business Center was established in the old North Head School.