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What does future hold for Orillia Farmers' Market? (UPDATE: Incorrect information provided)

Officials ponder changing designation from 'true' farmers market to open up space for artisans, crafters and bakers

UPDATED

9:45 a.m. Sept. 27:
Incorrect information was provided at the Sept. 24, 2018 Orillia Council Committee meeting regarding the Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market. The Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market is a certified farmers’ market as defined by Farmers’ Markets Ontario. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Despite its deep roots in the community, the Orillia Farmers’ Market seems to be on shaky ground.

On average, there have been 13 to 15 fewer vendors at each Saturday morning market this year, prompting concerns about the future of the market, which has been operating in Orillia since 1842.

With that in mind, market officials were at City Hall Monday night, asking council committee’s blessing to modify hours, alter fees charged to vendors and to relax some rules about where produce sold at the market can be grown.

But the discussion blossomed with bigger concerns. At the heart of the issue is the designation of Orillia’s market.

“The Orillia Farmers’ Market is considered a true farmers’ market,” said market manager Amy Mangan. That means 51 percent of vendors must be growers and producers. “It’s always a struggle” to meet that quota because of the perils of farming, she said: “It’s a tough life to be a farmer.”

And that’s why officials are contemplating removing that designation and the limitations it prescribes.

“Sadly, this season we did see a decline in approximately 13 to 15 vendors per farmers’ market,” said Coun. Sarah Valiquette-Thompson, council’s representative on the farmers’ market committee. “That’s simply because we aren’t able to capture the actual producers and, unfortunately, we can’t expand … by bringing in more artisans and crafters.”

In the summer of 2017, there were 48-50 vendors on some busy Saturday mornings. This past summer, despite great weather, there were, at times, around 30-34 vendors.

Those numbers, say the Ward 1 councillor, are mostly related to the need to adhere to the 51 percent quota.

“Quite surprising, the ODAS Park farmers’ market and the Gravenhurst market, for example, aren’t” pure farmers’ markets. “They can bring in additional artisans and crafters while we have to stick to this 51 percent” quota.

But that may change. Valiquette-Thompson says a working group has been formed to investigate options. She said that group will “look at broadening the scope and if we should perhaps look at bringing in additional artisans, bakers, crafters and what not to fill the space.”

She said the committee is tracking attendance, the number of vendors and other stats so they have up-to-date data.

Even if the group opts to pursue changing the designation, the weekly event can still be called a farmers’ market, said Valiquette-Thompson.

“We’ve always been an authentic, heritage designated farmers’ market,” she said. “A lot of the time, the consumer wouldn’t even know that. You can still call yourself a farmers’ market.”

Currently, the market is not attracting enough producers but, due to the designation, must turn away vendors such as crafters and artisans, she lamented.

Coun. Tim Lauer asked if there were any benefits to the designation.

Mangan said there were a few benefits including insurance and liability protection. “The designation also allows our prepared food vendors to not have to prepare their product in a certified kitchen,” she said, noting the designation allows them to “bypass inspections” from the health unit.

In the end, council committee approved the market’s plans. If ratified by council Monday night, that means the weekly markets will begin at 8 a.m. instead of 7:30, some vendor fees will be modified and the 50-kilometre radius currently in place for producers will grow to 100 kilometres.

In the meantime, the new working group will continue its work probing a potential change of designation.

The Orillia Farmers’ Market is one of the longest-running farmers' markets in the province. It began in 1842 at the waterfront.

In 1872, the market was relocated to a parcel of land in downtown Orillia at the corner of Mississaga Street and West Street that was turned over for the use of local farmers. This parcel of land also houses the Orillia Opera House and Public Library.

The market is held in the library parking lot and inside the library on Saturday mornings.


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Dave Dawson

About the Author: Dave Dawson

Dave Dawson is community editor of OrilliaMatters.com
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