Justine Reis takes stock of a display of locally grown produce, including produce from Reis Ranch Produce and apples from Canada Family Farms. Photo by Seti Long

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Seeking something fresh to draw visitors, the Butte County Fair debuted the Fair Time Marketplace for the 2026 event.

Partnering with local farmstand owners and operators, the Fair Time Marketplace invited local vendors to bring their wares to one location and set up a co-op-style market where each individual business would support the others.

Butte County Fair CEO Matt Reed said the Fair Time Marketplace centered around a concept now largely lost to history, acting as a throwback to old rural fair culture and a time when local farmers would bring their produce and handmade wares to the county fair to expand their business networks or source quality goods for their products.

The Fair Time Marketplace featured seven local businesses, four of which were hyperlocal to the Gridley-Biggs area: B Street Blooms, Canada Family Farms, Reis Ranch Produce and The Sheldon Stand. Others included Mission 52 Sierra Nevada Olive Oil, Sunny Day Orchards and Happy Hen Farms.

The team said working as a co-op made the responsibilities of staffing the market more manageable, especially since some of the farmstand owners have very young children.

“Working as a co-op made it so it wasn’t overwhelming for any one of us,” said Justine Reis of Reis Ranch Produce.

Brenda Kirby, Ashley Siller and Justine Reis, three of the seven Fair Time Marketplace vendors, clean up after the fair. Photo by Seti Long

Ashley Siller of The Sheldon Stand said their biggest logistical challenge was figuring out the peak times.

“For not really knowing what we were getting into, the only thing we had an issue with was gauging when the traffic was going to come,” Siller said.

Siller said she expected Saturday and Sunday to be busier days but found that Friday ended up being the highest-traffic day.

In addition, their normal bestsellers at the farmstands weren’t necessarily what they found moving at the Fair Time Marketplace.

“I can sell jams and jellies all day long,” Siller said. “I don’t think I’ve sold a single one yet. Or like my peach cobblers, I can’t keep them in stock on my stand normally.”

Siller said those weren’t as popular at Fair Time either.

Based on feedback from the participants, their experience was positive, and they agreed they would have a game plan based on notes from the inaugural run to streamline a future Fair Time Marketplace.

Although it is not certain whether the Fair Time Marketplace will return in 2027, chances appear good for its return.

“It was a huge success,” Reed said. “I think every single vendor had an excellent experience. Some vendors even requested that the building stay open longer.”