Keith Bryant
Vendor fees for the 2017 Farmers Market are set, thanks to a special meeting of the Bella Vista City Council help Feb. 21.
The market, now accepting applications for vendors, will start April 23 and retain last year's schedule, opening 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, adjusting for weather if and when necessary.
Economic Development manager Travis Stephens said that, while there was some push-back for opening the market Sundays, it ultimately worked well. In many cases, he said, this allowed vendors to participate in Bella Vista's market as well as markets in other towns.
Vendors interested in selling their wares will be charged $125 for the season if they pay on or before March 28, or $150 if they pay after that date. Vendors interested in a single-day spot will be charged $25.
Additionally, vendors will now be paying a 10 percent commission after their first $100 they earn to the market's new coordinator, Samantha Mosher.
Anyone interested in learning more can contact Mosher at [email protected].
Stephens said this is something several vendors suggested, because it would provide more incentive for the manager to promote the market. This is fairly typical for a farmers market to do, he said.
He said he expects the market to be a boon for the city.
"It adds a sense of community," he said. "It provides a place for locals to come together and further engages the residents with their city. It adds to the quality of life and many amenities that Bella Vista offers to its residents."
This year, he said, one focal point will be getting more signage out and increasing awareness of the market.
The new coordinator, he said, was hired on a one-year contract, much like the previous coordinator, Alison Archer, who declined to re-apply for the position.
Mosher said she moved to Bella Vista for the second time, after leaving in 2014 to live closer to her husband, Michael Mosher, in 2014. He served in the Army, she said, at Fort Campbell, Ky. and is retiring soon, she said.
Mosher said she heard about the position from a friend who lives in Bella Vista, and she decided to try for it. Ultimately, she said, she ended up juggling a move from Kentucky with filling out paperwork and learning about her job.
She's worked locally at Gusano's, she said, and also has experience working at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers as a patient-care technician.
Moving into the farmers market, she said, she's primarily focused on growth. Last year, she said, created a good base and now the market needs to grow.
She's excited to start working on the market, she said, even if she does have a busy couple of months ahead of her.
"I enjoy working with the public," she said, "I enjoy the challenges. I'm excited about it, I'm looking forward to seeing what the season holds for us."
Business on 03/01/2017