Lloyd Mapplebeck, president and acting interim manager for the market, said applications for the position were due this past Saturday.
“We did have a lot of applications, but as to how many I don’t know that number yet,” Mapplebeck said about the position that runs from March to December and will be renewed on an annual basis.
“For years, the Truro Farmers Market had a manager and an assistant manager on market days. This past year, we had Jamey Coughlin as our project manager and a site manager in Angel Nicholson, but that was just for our transition year (to the old fire hall). They were hired under a contract for our transition year.”
Mapplebeck said the organization will combine those two positions this year, which is what the applications were for.
Key responsibilities for the position include market management, community relations, marketing, vendor recruitment and management, and office management.
“It’s a fulltime position and we have a very comprehensive job description,” said Mapplebeck.
A selection committee has been formed under the board of directors to pick the successful applicant.
Last year, the farmers’ market spent its first season in the old fire hall near the corner of Young and Prince streets. The enclosed location allows the market to open earlier and close later in the year than had it been completely outside.
This year, the market will open on April 6.
“We hope to have our manager in place by the end of the month because by that time it’s only five weeks until our opening. We’re opening a month earlier than last year,” Mapplebeck said.
Even though the farmers’ market isn’t operating during the winter season, there are still a number of things to be done to prepare.
“We run as a cooperative. We have policies, rules, budget and our vendor applications that all need to be looked after,” said Mapplebeck. “Last year we had 90 different vendors come in and there will be more applying this year. A farmers’ market in 2013 is quite different than one that used to exist. We’re constantly evolving and expanding.”
