Westshore Market brings local vendors to Russell Park each week

By Anne Santor

The Westshore Farmers Market brings a variety of local vendors and items to Russell Park every Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. alongside Cruise Night.

The West Shore Farmers Market began in 2021 on Eckerson Ave. in the area where the West Shore railroad formerly ran and was held every Sunday. The location of the market on Eckerson did not bring in enough customers to retain vendors so the decision was made to move to Russell Park and continue on Sundays.  The change did not adequately increase the customer base, so the Market moved to Thursday nights to join with Cruise Night and connect with additional customers.

There are a variety of items at the market each week.  Many are grown or made locally, baked goods, fresh vegetables, maple syrup, and jams.  There are activities such as hair braiding and face painting. Each week is different at the market depending on vendors attending.

The process of becoming a vendor includes filling out a form which is found on the Akron-Newstead Chamber of Commerce website. Potential vendors have the option of doing a single week, half season, or full season space. A few is required depending on which option the vendor chooses ranging from $15 to $140. Non-profit organizations do not pay a fee.

The New York SNAP Token program allows shoppers to use their EBT cards at the Market. People swipe their EBT card at the market info tent to receive wooden tokens that act as cash for eligible items. The West Shore Market is also a double-up site where customers can swipe for SNAP tokens also receive tokens to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Julie Kowalski, the market manager, plays a critical role in the operation of the market. Kowalski oversees reaching out to vendors, communicating to vendors how the market works and setting each vendor in a spot each week.  Kowalski’s goal is to have a farmers’ market that the community looks forward to with the hope that community members can buy high quality and locally grown or produced items. “I think it’s a great opportunity to bring community together and have a gathering area over the summer,” says Kowalski.