By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Getting rooted in the community is vital for a farmers market to be successful.

After all, the process of becoming a popular stop, of having loyal vendors and getting a steady clientele, sometimes takes a few years.

For some reason that nobody could pinpoint the Naples Farmers Market did not attract many people to its location next to the Naples Fire Station.

So, before the season is over, the Naples Farmers Market will move to the Causeway, where people already flock during the summertime.

This move was discussed on Monday during the Naples Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

The move is iminent. It could happen as early as this Sunday. The hours for the Naples Farmers Market will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bob Nyberg, the organizer of the farmers market, reported to the selectmen how things have panned out — or not panned out — at the venue known as the former Begin Estate, the field next to the fire station.

“We started out with 16 vendors. Now we are down to one or two,” Nyberg said.

“The unfortunate part is that nobody is stopping at the field. They were stopping last year. Now nobody is stopping. Fewer and fewer people are coming,” he said.

“Last week, we set up on the green. There was only one guy. I moved him down to the spot where the veterans’ monument used to be. He did well,” he said.

“I would like to put it on the Causeway on the grassy sections,” Nyberg said. “I wanted to see what you guys think about that.”

The selectmen supported the move and told Nyberg to work with Community Activities Director (CAD) Peter Ceprano to measure how many booths could be situated in the green space on the Causeway. Then, Nyberg planned to contact those farmers and vendors who gave up due to the lack of traffic.

“I am down to two, but they’ll all come back,” he said.

There was some discussion as to why the venue was not successful. Selectman Kevin Rogers said people are already starting to speed out of town when they pass that spot. An audience member said the field was too hot and the air did not circulate up there. Another person said it wasn’t as visible from the road.

Essentially, the Causeway is a destination spot for most people.

The line of thinking is: If people don’t come to the farmers market, bring the farmers market to them.

“If we did it on the Causeway, the farmers would have to park somewhere else. They set up and then they would move their vehicles to leave parking spaces,” Nyberg said.

Chairman Jim Grattelo said it was important to leave parking spaces open and also leave vacant green space.

“The other thing we are going to have to do is limit is [the number of vendors] because we only have so many grassy areas,” Grattelo said.

Selectmen Bob Caron II said holding the farmers market on the Causeway would be an experiment on the town’s part. Also, he asked how many vendors would be able to fit on the green space.

Grattelo suggested that Nyberg and Ceprano measure the space and go down there with Peter and figure out a booth configuration.

“I am interested in trying it where all our traffic is — on the Causeway,” Gratteo said, adding a few caveats. “Don’t take up all the green space. Leave parking spaces.”

Caron suggested holding the farmer market earlier than the 10 a.m. start to “get out there before there is too much heat.”

However, he thought the timing was fortuitous, considering the growing season got a late start.

“It could be good through the fall time, especially the way the season has gone. Some things are just going to bloom,” he said.

While Nyberg was looking forward to spending the remainder of the farmers market season on the Causeway, he was looking at the long-term picture.

“It takes two or three years to get a strong farmers market,” he said.