Help Wanted: Clinton Farmers' Market Master

The popular Clinton Farmers’ Market will not reach its third birthday unless a market master steps up to the plate to volunteer.

Lise Gazzillo, who operated the market last summer, said, "It's essentially like operating your own business." 

Unfortunately for Gazzillo, she cannot take on the added responsibility of running the market for a third year at this time.

But she's willing to get a new person or persons started on the right track.

The market master needs to be "a self-starter, someone who maybe has run their own business, somebody who can market it, and somebody who can be there every Friday for the designated time," she said. 

Gazzillo set up the market as an LLC, "so whoever does take it over is protected and the town is protected," she pointed out. 

Last year, the farmers’ market opened at the end of May and was held at Clinton Landing, 54 East Main Street (adjacent to Clinton Town Hall) every Friday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. until October. Despite some rainy days and its fledgling second year, the market was the place to be on Friday afternoon.

The goal of the market is to showcase Connecticut-grown or -made items such as fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, jams and jellies, honey, and handmade items such as jewelry, soaps, candles, and knitted items.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ellen Cavanagh said it will be a disappointment to many residents, visitors, and vendors if the third market does not get off the ground. 

"The farmers’ market was just being fine-tuned,” said Cavanagh. “It needs to continue to be a wonderful work in progress. It has so much potential.”

The market needs to remain at Clinton Landing, said Cavanagh, due to the town’s Planning & Zoning approval of the location.

"You have to familiarize yourself with all of the regulations of running one," Gazzillo said and added, "There are manuals which explain all this stuff."

She added, "You have to be able to market it, work with the town with getting the proper permits that are needed for the activities you want to have held, and there's paperwork."

Paperwork covers topics such as making sure the vendors are bona fide and that they, too, have the proper permits. 

"It’s a lot of work," admits Linda Snelgrove, who orchestrated the market in its first year.

“I had to create the whole farmers' market in terms of contacting the vendors and following up and procuring the fees and permits,” she said.

“Once you’ve done that and you have a fair amount of vendors, it takes care of itself because the vendors have done these markets and they know what to do,” Snelgrove said.

The market master makes sure everyone is the right place because usually there is an assigned space.

“Some pay by the season and some pay by the week,” she explained. “You collect money from those who pay weekly.”

The market master position involves “a lot of organization and follow-up,” she said.

Some vendors will drop out “so you need to constantly be recruiting vendors,” she said.

Snelgrove started with 14 vendors and then got up to 18 but some dropped out.

She was not able to continue in the volunteer position because of health issues.

“There’s a lot of work I couldn’t do,” she admitted.

Snelgrove found the position to be "very rewarding" when she saw people coming.

“I’ve lived in Clinton for many years and when I saw the people coming, that was when the rewarding part came. So many people thanked me for doing it,” Snelgrove said and added, “They loved it. Some people were there every week.”

“It’s a shame to let this go down the drain,” Snelgrove believes.

The volunteer job can be held by one person, a team of friends, husband and wife, a family, or others.  Think about it!

If you are interested in volunteering for the position, please contact Lise Gazzillo at 860-552-4020 or by email at lise@scoutproductions.com.