REGINA — A new chapter has begun in the history of the Regina Farmers' Market — one that links its past with plans for the future.

The farmers' market opened its new downtown office on Wednesday about half a block from its market on the 1900 block of Scarth Street. In its 34-year history, the farmers' market has never before had an office to call home, and managers had to run the market from their cars or homes.

"It's fabulous that we finally have an office. This is an office that not only belongs to the manager, it belongs to the membership as a whole," said market manager Ada Bennett. "They all decided that we should have an office and that it would be important to (the) market. It's just a wonderful thing to be downtown and be part of the whole downtown plan that's happening."

At the annual general meeting of the farmers' market's members in February, the choice and costs associated with having an office were examined and overwhelmingly approved.

Located at 160-2002 Victoria Ave., at the ground level of Avord Tower, the office will provide convenience for the market's members and storage for signage, tablecloths, and paperwork. In addition, it will serve as a meeting place for market stakeholders, such as the City of Regina, Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), and various community groups.

And because the market is growing and expanding, Bennett said the office is essential to run things in an organized fashion. From 2007 to 2008, Bennett doubled the number of market vendors from 18 to 36, and market attendance doubled as a result. She said this year, in the highest point of the market, about 60 vendors will be on the street.

Michael Huber, executive director of Regina Downtown BID, said the organization tracks attendance every year at the market, and last year the maximum attendance during one day was 9,500 people.

"That's almost half our downtown workforce that comes out and enjoys the farmers' market ... they need to have a presence, and now finally they've got it," he said. "The market is so important because it's a downtown amenity that is one of the most well-known events that takes place ... week to week during the summer."

Even though the weather this summer has not always co-operated with the market, Huber said he expects this year's attendance counts — that occur in late July or early August — to be just as high, if not higher, than last year. While some local vegetables are now coming in a bit late, greenhouse vegetables were available to market-goers much earlier in the season.

Bennett said the new office will also come in handy for the planned expansion of the market, which is set to occur in 2011. The expansion will give the market a second block to operate — the 2100 block of 12th Avenue — and allow for more than 140 vendors, making the Regina Farmers' Market the largest farmers' market in Saskatchewan.

Fred Clipsham, Ward 3 city councillor, said city council looks to the farmers' market as a regular event that will stimulate Regina's downtown.

"I'm really pleased that they've got a permanent office here and expect the farmers' market, as Victoria Park changes, is going to grow and become even more important to the liveliness of downtown," he said.