OLD ORCHARD BEACH –  A new artisan and farmers market is bringing local goods to The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach.

The market, which runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Sundays, began its inaugural season last month and will run through early September.

The Ballpark, at 7 Ballpark Way, is home to professional baseball team The Surge.

Ballpark Operations Manager Guy Fontaine has been looking at ways to diversify the offerings at the town-owned facility, and after receiving positive feedback from community members, created the market.

Fontaine said the market had a slow start with just a handful of vendors, but sees it growing as he continues to get the word out.

“Everyone likes instant success, including me, but obviously it doesn’t happen that way,” he said. The market is bringing people to The Ballpark and introducing people to the baseball stadium, and also providing an added attraction for those who come to watch ball games, he said.

“There are no negatives in this whole thing. It’s all positives as far as I’m concerned, he said.

Regular vendors at the market include a bread baker, an infused olive oil maker as well as artists and crafters. One thing that was missing was a farmer, and that void has now been filled.

Annette Austin of Annette’s Gardens in Springvale was selling fresh produce, eggs, canned sauces and jams, and a variety of plants including flowers, herbs and hanging strawberry and tomato plants.

Austin said she sells items at the Sanford farmers market and decided to try the Old Orchard Beach market.

The holiday weekend caused local baseball to cancel Sunday and slowed foot traffic in The Ballpark, but Austin said sales were good and she foresaw the market doing well.

Donna Hannigan of Old Orchard Beach was selling handmade scarves, tote bags, backpacks and other items.

“I buy the fabric and I sew it myself,” she said.

Hannigan puts her own mark on items, sewing a twist in an infinity scarf to get the same look as other scarves without the heavy layering and adding a fashionable flair to athletic style bags by using colorful prints.

“You won’t find anything like this in stores,” she said.

Fontaine is looking for more vendors for the Sunday market, and is hoping to get a seafood vendor.

Vendors interested in selling their items at the market can get an application at www.oobballpark.com or call Fontaine at 205-6160 for more information.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.