Operators of St. Jacobs Farmers' Market have little problem keeping the stalls there occupied.
"We're lucky in that way," said Todd Burnside, market manager for the farmers market north of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. "We have a good vendor base."
Likewise, the crowds are generally good, with the facility -- which offers a broad range of produce, other food products and merchandise -- drawing a mix of tourists and locals. The facility is open year-round, two to three days a week, though summer, when 25,000 to 30,000 vistors per week stop by, is the peak season.
St. Jacobs was the model on which American Countryside Farmers Market was based, according to investors in the Elkhart facility. Compared to its Elkhart counterpart, though -- which will be shutting its doors on Sept. 4 -- the Canadian complex seems to be thriving.
"It's very strong," Burnside said in a phone interview. He noted good word-of-mouth publicity among vendors, key in keeping the stalls filled, and the many local farmers selling their goods there.
Here are some other St. Jacobs particulars:
* Farmers: Local farmers "are a very big part of our market," Burnside said. Shoppers can query them directly on their goods, he said, and know that by buying from them, they're supporting a local operator, not a nameless corporation.
Some here have lamented the limited presence of local farmers at American Countryside.
* Shoppers: Locals tend to use St. Jacobs "as their grocery store," Burnside said.
Some here have lamented the dearth of locals who make regular forays to American Countryside.
* Population base: The population within a radius of some 30 miles of St. Jacobs, including the cities of Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge, totals around 450,000 to 500,000. The combined population of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, the biggest population centers within a 30-mile radius of American Countryside, totals around 470,000.
* The facility: The Canadian farmers market consists of one two-level facility -- the rough model for the American Countryside complex -- and another adjacent facility that also serves as a livestock exchange. In all, there are typically 400 vendors during the summer, both inside and outside the two buildings, according to Burnside.
American Countryside has around 100 indoor spaces, though some vendors use multiple slots. The Elkhart facility's website lists 34 vendors there.
* The offerings: Stalls offering food fill the first floor of the Canadian market's main building. Crafts, antiques, art and other merchandise are offered on the second floor.
Likewise, American Countryside offers mainly foodstuff on the main level and merchandise on the second floor.