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County Chamber of Commerce expands opportunities for local producers, artisans with consumer show in Massena

Posted 5/29/15

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County and regional artisans and specialty food producers will have more chances this year than ever to sell their products to the public and, for the first time, retail …

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County Chamber of Commerce expands opportunities for local producers, artisans with consumer show in Massena

Posted

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County and regional artisans and specialty food producers will have more chances this year than ever to sell their products to the public and, for the first time, retail buyers.

For the first time, the chamber will host a Taste & Talents of the North Country consumer show at the St. Lawrence Centre Mall Arena in Massena, on Dec. 11 and 12.

The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce announced October dates for its most popular craft, food and wine show, as well as a new show set for December. The chamber is partnering with the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) to hold a local version of ANCA’s renowned Adirondack Buyers Days, designed to bring vendors and wholesale buyers together as it highlights unique, locally produced goods.

“We’re excited to offer this second shopping show, building on the success of our annual Craft, Food and Wine Show,” Brooke Rouse, chamber executive director said. “The Massena event will include vendors from that corner of the county, as well as Akwesasne, and will be promoted in Franklin County and across the border into Canada.”

Rouse said the is “strongly focused on attracting our Canadian neighbors to shop, stay and enjoy our county. This new show is one way we can do that, while also exposing potential customers and businesses to the mall.”

The Craft, Food & Wine Show at Clarkson will be held Oct. 16 and 17. Qualifying chamber members and previous show vendors have already received vendor packets; on June 1, packets will be sent to new, qualifying vendors. Show details for the public will be announced later this year.

The day after the Craft, Food & Wine Show, Cheel will remain the setting for the Chamber/ANCA wholesale-only show, Sunday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Artisans and producers must apply for the show, with acceptance determined by ANCA case-by-case, based on capacity and product category representation. To qualify, products must be handmade/designed/produced by the applicant.

For 29 years, Adirondack Buyer Days has connected retailers to the best artisan producers from across the region. Held in Saratoga Springs, the wholesale show is the only trade show in New York State devoted to handmade and locally sourced artisan products.

The event draws buyers from gift shops, restaurants, museum shops, farm stands and other independent retail outlets across New York and beyond. According to ANCA, the show is “a great opportunity for vendors to access new markets, and for retailers to buy directly from artisans, meet the producers and learn the stories of their unique wares.”

The St. Lawrence County Chamber and ANCA will hold preparatory workshops to assist producers with managing wholesale opportunities, Rouse said.

“Our community is rich with artisans and producers,” Rouse said. “Our goal is to help them make their work profitable and self-sustaining so that they can continue to live in this beautiful area while making a living, potentially hiring help and contributing to the local economy.”

For more information, contact Melissa Hart at ANCA: mhart@adirondack.org; to read about Adirondack Buyer Days, visit www.adirondack.org/2015-adirondack-buyer-days.

For information on the chamber shows in Potsdam and Massena, contact Jo Ann Roberts at jroberts@stlawrencecountychamber.org and watch for updates on www.NorthCountryGuide.com.