On a blustery, overcast day in October, the Maple Valley Farmers’ Market quietly wrapped up its inaugural season with 34 vendors and a collection of regular patrons on hand.

Organizers of the market couldn’t be more pleased with the way the first season came together, including Kim Emmons and Victoria Laise Jonas, both founding members of its Board of Directors.

“The season was plentiful,” Emmons said. “We had 77 vendors vend at our market and a consistent attendance record of 900 to 1,000 each week.”

Emmons said that she felt the market had accomplished its mission.

“Our original goal was to create a ‘Community Gathering Place’ and every week we were overwhelmed by the comments from the community about what a great place the market was to see their neighbors and meet new friends,” Emmons said. “We are especially proud of the six students from THS that we hired as Market Manager interns. We ended the season with all six students experiencing what it is like to run a farmers market.”

During the course of the season, which began June 20, the vendors had total sales of $147,000, Jonas said, so “our market was successful for our first year.”

At the final market day on Oct. 10 at Rock Creek Elementary, Jonas added, there were about 1,500 customers during the regular hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I would be part of bringing a farmers’ market to Maple Valley — the whole process seems surreal,” Jonas said. “It is important to recall that this all began in July 2008 over a cup of coffee with Patty Davis. We had a outstanding group of community leaders who joined in the steering committee efforts, which then led each and every one of them to become active (board) members.”

Other than the six paid student interns, everyone involved with the market was a volunteer, Jonas said.

Many volunteers would show up at 7 a.m. and would stay until 2 p.m. each Saturday for 16 weeks straight. This added up to about 8,200 volunteer hours over the course of the season.

With the first season of the Maple Valley Farmers Market in the books, the board of directors is already beginning to plan for 2010.

One goal, Jonas said, is to allow vendors to accept food stamps and market vouchers from low-income shoppers and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) clients. Now that the market is established this is something that can be added next year because “offering these types of programs to our customers in 2010 is a priority and one of our … directors has already begun the process.”

Another area the board will focus on is the relationship with market vendors, because, Jonas said, “without them there would be no Farmers’ Market.”

“Our board of directors has already made a commitment to contact our vendors early next year and give them first opportunity to come back to our market,” she said. “After we have heard from our 2009 vendors, we will then begin recruiting for other vendors to complement the mix of Farmers’ Market offerings.”

Emmons added that the board would love more help next year.

“We will be opening up June 19, 2010, to kick off our second season,” Emmons said. “It is not too early for volunteers to get involved for next season.”

More information about the market can be found at www.maplevalleyfarmersmarket.org.