Sunday dawned damp and dull but the
market was stunning and exceeded expectations in every way. We appeared to get
pretty much everything right except the weather.
Some of the highlights
include:
- The market was teeming with people at 8.45 am, well before opening time
- The asparagus sold out before 9.30am
- The students from Waiariki sold out early. Following requests for Xmas cakes and mince pies, they are already planning for the next Rotorua Farmers Market.
- The early birds got one of the 300 free orange Rotorua Farmers Market bags (more available next week)
- The City Guardians manning the cameras said it was the busiest Sunday in the city since March
- Locals, families from out of town and international tourists all happily tasted and purchased what was on offer
- Many of the local businesses reported a huge increase in Sunday trading
- One of the inner city cash machines ran out of money .... we can guess where it went
We had some fabulous feedback
including:
- I wish we had this in Hamilton. In Auckland
- This is the best market we have been to in a long time
- We heard the music from our apartment and can’t believe we have this on our doorstep. And it’s going to be a regular market...
- Who do I talk to about having a cart?
If this is what we can do on
a stormy Sunday imagine what we can achieve over the rest of the summer. What a fantastic opening weekend event for the Rotorua Tulip Festival.
Thank you to all of
the Rotorua locals who braved the elements, despite the weather forecast and came out in
their droves anyway. Thanks also to all the stallholders who delighted the
community with their style and sheer variety of produce.