"At first I wasn't worried, because I figured once word started spreading, we'd have more than enough vendors for the market," she said Wednesday. "But it was like one after another that I kept getting calls from vendors who said they couldn't do it this year. Frankly I was shocked."
More than 20 vendors from the Hudson Valley area participated in the inaugural season of the 22-week Yorktown Farmers Market last summer. The market was able to raise more than $10,700 for local charities last year and was set to open Saturday at the firehouse at 1916 Commerce St. in Yorktown Heights. But Symington Muendell said there weren't enough vendors this year to support the rental.
"When I sat down to see who was left, I realized I didn't have enough to cover the rental of the field, never mind donating money to the charity of the week," she said. "That left me in a position where I really had no choice but to cancel the market."
Symington Muendell formed Maize Market Management last year to get the farmers market off the ground, but said she never anticipated closing down the market so soon. While the spring and summer seasons are cancelled, the market could make its return in the fall.
"I want to work on getting a fall market open in October," she said. "We're going to work with the firehouse to try to get it going by October, take some time off for the holidays and then hopefully run it all the way until next spring."
Those looking to learn the latest on the Yorktown Farmers Market are asked to visit Maize Market Management's website.
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