The record-breaking Auburn International Farmers Market (AIFM) season has come to a close.

This was my third season to participate as a proud advisory board member and active person dedicating more than 200 hours of volunteer time. I helped the market obtain funding through sponsorships and donations, finding volunteers to provide all kinds of support, including free entertainment, created marketing materials and showing up every Sunday from June 10-Sept. 23 at 7 a.m. until well after closing.

We provided local crafts, entertainment and information from a variety of community nonprofits, beautiful flowers and fresh food from farm to table. Our vendors tell us that we are their favorite market. We know that is true since over half came for the entire season.

Joanne Macnab, our market manager, does an amazing job with a very small budget. Because of her expertise and passion, and the support of Auburn City Council, with council member Bill Peloza as the main cheerleader, we've been able to garner support from many local businesses and organizations.

We were blessed with a hand-washing station last year and a cooking demonstration unit this year from Waste Management. Our first food demonstration was a tailgate lunch menu using produce from the market. The variety of entertainment has been done mostly by volunteers.

The AIFM has a regular following of happy citizens that come every Sunday. Our season was jammed with special events, including International Day, Kids Day, Dog Days of Summer, Senior Appreciation Day, National Farmers Market Week, Sister City Day and a chili cook-off between the Auburn Police Department and Valley Regional Fire Authority, which raised donations given to the Auburn Food Bank for those in need.

To those who wrote negative letters to the editor, I want to invite you to come and participate. Come put in your time and energy as I do, you'll see we do listen to valid concerns and entertain changes.

Our first planning meeting for the 2013 season is 3 p.m. Oct. 26 in Conference Room No. 1, City Hall Annex, One East Main St. It is open to the Public. Join us and give your input.

Check out our Auburn Farmers Market Facebook page. To date, there's more than 1,000 likes, so we're on the right track. Next season opening day is June 9, 2013.

See you at the market.

– Linda Morris

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