it should be on saturday. most people aren't interested in going to a farmers market after a long day of work.

What are the state rules that are discouraging them? No markets on Sunday? The small Sunday market closest to me (I've been trying to get a spot for years) does very well.

I guess you have to judge by what other markets are within a decent driving distance for a Sat market, people will go out to a "destination" market that has a lot of vendors rather than a small start-up since they have the time that day.

What other markets are on weekday evenings, and are they on the way home from work, convenient parking, right on the main route? Those will get the commuter traffic stopping by for fresh corn, etc. for dinner that night.

I think it really depends on where the market will be held, how many vendors are there, if there is entertainment, etc. to decide whether it will do well as a weekend market or a quick weekday alternative to the grocery store. Sometimes it can be much quicker to stop at a market (definitely quicker to stop at a farm stand on the commute route) than at a store. That can work to your advantage for a weekday night.

One thing I've noticed in 3 years (my vast experience!) of doing markets is that the Friday one seemed to be busier than the Wed night one (though not approaching the Sunday AM one, all 3 were in different locations so not a controlled experiment). And while Friday would start picking up a little earlier than Wed (say 4pm instead of 5) neither was busy as early as the committee had set opening for - very disappointing to get there at 1:30 (rules) to set up for 3pm (!) and have no customers until 4, pick up around 5, and then pack up for 6pm just as it was getting really busy, people trying to buy things off the truck as you're packing up. And after you say, oh, yes, I have X (whatever they've asked for) and dig it out, they want a discount b/c it's the end of the day and it's just going in the compost, right?

Just because other location markets operate on a particular day it should only influence you if you cannot obtain enough interested vendors to participate. The customers will come on any day provided there is enough of what they want offered at the market and they feel a connection to the market. Often you can set hours to start and then modify them based on when most people seem to turnout.

I was in countless Saturday markets but am now limiting my participation in only two, Tuesday and Friday. The Friday market was established but I wanted a mid-week split for my perishable fruit and vegetable crops so I helped get a Tuesday market at the identical location as the Friday one. Those two markets work great for my crops and I now have the free time on Saturday to enjoy other activities instead of trying to find something more to pick on successive days.

There are a number of issues to address in starting any market. I'd insist on a producer-only market and limit the vendor address to a specific region, usually county plus adjoining counties. Insist on quality and consistancy in vendor turnout within a predetermined market season. You might be surprised how far people will come for quality farm produce.

I agree that weekday markets can be as or more productive than weekend markets. I've been scouting out weekday markets so i have a second outlet for my produce when it's fresh, and won't have to either hold it over for several days or compost it. Some of the weekday markets I've visited look very busy, and talking to vendors it sounds like a few of the markets have more patrons than the weekend market i currently sell at.

People often have plans on the weekend and it may be more convenient to stop at a farmers market during the week, on their way home from work.

It's unfortunate that you are running into obstacles in starting your market. Hopefully you can find some sort of support, maybe in your local government or a church or other organization.

We ran into the same problem when I kicked off one here in town. They ended up having it on Wednesday afternoons so vendors could attend both if they wanted. They don't because the larger market also has Wednesday hours. I pushed for Saturday, but vendors said they wouldn't attend if it competed with the larger markets, but they don't attend AT ALL.