SASKATCHEWAN (CBC) - Saskatoon's popular farmer's market should be open more than two days a week, according to some businesses.

Currently the market operates booths on Wednesdays and Saturdays in Saskatoon's Riversdale neighbourhood west of downtown.

Nearby business owners call the market a jewel that attracts thousands of shoppers to their district.

"It's not just the residents here," Randy Pshebylo, the executive director of the Riversdale Business Improvement District, told CBC News. "We're getting people from all over the city coming to the area, which was unheard of three and four years ago."

The lease on the home of the market is up for renewal in 2010. It has been suggested that a condition of extending the agreement require the market to open more often.

However, keeping the booths open and stocked five days a week would be a strain, according to the farmers who run them.

"You've got to be in the field, you have to be mowing and hoeing and watering, and if you're here, you can't do that," Fred Gittings, of Grandora Gardens, told CBC News. "So if you want a real authentic farmer's market: one or two days a week."

Venders also point out that their current weekday opening, Wednesdays, sees significantly lower sales compared to Saturdays.

Supporters of more open days say consumer demand may yet influence how things go.

"We're starting to see more and more people, as they have disposable incomes, want to have food that's produced locally," Pshebylo said. "[They] support locally grown as a healthy lifestyle. And the consumers are driving that."

Some vendors told CBC News that using the space for craft and book sales during the week could be an option.