Weekday farmers market set for Five Points

The Sarasota Farmers Market has made it official: The event is expanding its presence in downtown Sarasota to the middle of the week.

Beginning Nov. 5 and running through April, a smaller farmers market will be held weekly on Wednesdays at Five Points Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the organization announced in a release. The event will feature 40 vendors, with a particular focus on agricultural products, though crafts, local artists and restaurants will also be featured as part of the market.

In an earlier interview with the Sarasota Observer, Sarasota Farmers Market General Manager Phil Pagano said he's been researching a potential expansion for six years, and the success of the Saturday market made him confident it could thrive on Wednesdays, too. He hopes the weekday event will help generate activity downtown.

“I think it's a critical time downtown, with a lot of things happening,” Pagano said. “I think that this could help with the foot traffic that's very well needed with the mall coming in.”

Contact David Conway at [email protected].