SALEM MARKET HAS SLOW START, BUT BUSY SEASON IS EXPECTED

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 15, 1993                   TAG: 9304150398
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Charles Stebbins
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
SALEM MARKET HAS SLOW START, BUT BUSY SEASON IS EXPECTED
The Salem Farmers' Market got off to a slow start for its 1993 season last week because of cool and rainy weather.
No vendors showed up April 1, a day of uncertain weather and the first official day of the market's 1993 season, which will last until Dec. 31.
But a slow start is not indicative of the whole season.
R.C. Wimmer, manager of the Salem city-owned market, said 1992 was a good year, and he expected the 1993 season to be even better.
Last year was the first full season for the market with its covered sales area, restrooms and landscaping. The market is at Main and Broad streets in downtown Salem.
Debbie Sinex, Salem's horticulturist and overseer of the market operation, said that if advance sign-ups by vendors are an indication, the market can expect an active season.
All of the market's 25 stalls have been reserved for a good part of the summer, she said. But there will be space for vendors who sell at the market occasionally and rent stalls on a daily basis.
The official opening day was expected to be marginal weatherwise, so Sinex did not plan an opening ceremony. But she hopes to have a formal program later in the season when the weather has become more summer-like.
The sale of garden and farm products is not the only activity at the market. Other events are scheduled.
A pre-Mother's Day flower sale will be held the weekend of May 1 and 2.
On May 2, from noon to 5 p.m., an art show sponsored by the Salem Fine Arts Commission will be held.
The show will be in conjunction with the flower sale, and free carnations will be given to the first 300 mothers who visit the art show.
Other events during the year, Sinex said, will include the market's participation in Olde Salem Days in September and the second annual children's festival in October.
A special program will be held at Christmas when the evergreen tree planted as part of the farmers' market landscaping will be lighted and decorated as Salem's community Christmas tree.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB