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HomeNewsArchives'Market Day' Returns to Christian ‘Shan’ Hendricks Market

'Market Day' Returns to Christian ‘Shan’ Hendricks Market

Rita Chiverton, left, buys cucumbers from Edith Matthew.For more than a decade, only two or three vendors were seen Saturdays at the The Christian ‘Shan’ Hendricks Market in downtown Christiansted, once the traditional center of the community and a center of Crucian culture.

The market came to life again Saturday morning, as about a dozen vendors brought products to market to bring a change to downtown and revitalize Christiansted.

The Company Street market, named after a butcher who once operated a shop there, has been an active site since the 1750s and a focal point of Crucian culture.

Reminiscent of a postcard, picture- perfect Caribbean market day, the vendors bustled around, setting up products on cement tables. Birds sang and roosters crowed, and the scent of fresh-cooked food filled the air.

Assistant Agriculture Commissioner Luther Renee said the department partnered with the Christiansted Community Alliance for the inaugural re-opening of the market. The alliance is a grass-roots organization with the goal of revitalizing Christiansted and getting people to come to town.

“This market is the perfect place to cater to people from the East End,” Renee said.“Now they won’t have to drive to the La Reine market.”

Customers buy produce at the refurbished Christian ‘Shan’ Hendricks Market.The department hopes people living in town will also utilize the market, he said. The vendors will take vouchers for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program. Renee added the market looked good and will be a nice place for visitors to check out and buy local products there every Saturday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

V.I. Fire Services cleaned and hosed down the whole market from top to bottom. The Department of Public Works cleaned the public restrooms and Waste Management Authority set up trash bins.

Louis E. Petersen, Jr., commissioner at the V. I. Department of Agriculture, said in a media release they thought it was a good idea to refurbish this venue for farmers to sell their produce and revive activities in the Christiansted market, which has been practically dormant.

“We would like to see increased economic activity at this historical place which means so much to the residents of St. Croix,” Petersen said.

Errol Chichester, deputy commissioner of the V. I. Department of Agriculture, said he had always looked at the market with the hope of utilizing it more.

“I’m glad to see the start of the revitalization of the market and I hope this will be the norm everyday,” Chichester said. He was selling honey and papayas.

Juliana Gidharry, local shopper, said the revitalization of the market should have been done a long time ago.

“It’s good to keep this market alive,” Gidharry said. “It used to be busy a long time ago and it just stopped. We need this here and it’s good for town.”

Edith Matthew said she has been selling her old-fashioned remedies and in-season produce at the market faithfully for 42 years.

“It’s good to see a lot of vendors here today,” Matthew said. “I’m feeling good about this and I’m happy selling here today. I just hope it’s busy and we get a lot of customers.”

“There’s nothing more wholesome than to go to market and socialize,” said Gary Porkorny, a local farmer from Sun Croix Foods. “The market can be a social community event. We envision people coming to town and making a half-day of it and enjoying Christiansted.”

Gary Porkorny and his wife Laurie had been selling produce at the La Reine market earlier and came to Christiansted too. They had long green string beans, arugula, Bibb lettuce and cucumbers for sale.

Elenor Plaskett, selling fruit trees, herbs and fruit, said she generally sells at La Reine but she was giving it a try in Christiansted. Jane Meyers, selling jams, hot sauce, guava berry rum and local fruit drinks said she hopes the market will bring people into Christiansted.

Devorath Elcock, a fairly new farmer, said people need to promote agriculture any way they can and the revitalization of the market is a good way to do so. She was selling bananas, chives, thyme, and Chinese coconut trees.

Audrey Browne, Department of Agriculture market coordinator, said she has had a good response getting vendors.

“I encourage anybody and everybody to come and sell their products here,” Browne said. People farming on a small scale are welcome to try it out for a $5 fee for a table that could be theirs permanently, she said.

People interested in selling local produce and other agricultural commodities, such as fruits, vegetables, honey, preserves, plants, and pastries made with local fruits, can call Browne at 1-340-778-0998 ext. 228 to reserve a space. Vendor fees will be waived for the first six months.

The CCA also held a vintage, collectible, art and craft sale Saturday at Limpricht Park on King Street in its effort to restore both business and social life to Christiansted. Also, the Friends of Florence Williams Library held a book sale in front of the library.

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