Talk of moving market upsets vendors, visitors
Peachland mayor says town should consider moving farmers market out of park due to safety and other concerns
Karen Onrait-Casper, president of the Peachland Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market, was disappointed she had to find out from a local news story that Peachland council was considering moving the weekly market.
Sunday morning, Onrait-Casper, who also runs the Casper’s Corner stall, was at the market, handing out information sheets to more than 60 vendors.
Her concern arises from a discussion regarding the market at the Aug. 8 Peachland council meeting.
Mayor Cindy Fortin suggested council consider moving the market out of Heritage Park, where it has been renting space since 2007.
She cited safety issues because of the crowds the market attracts, noting traffic was recently backed up across Highway 97 on a red light even with flaggers.
As well, Fortin said she didn’t think the competition from the market and parking shortage on market day was fair to the businesses downtown that pay taxes year-round.
Fortin wants to re-examine the farmers market, noting she wasn’t even sure a lot of Peachland people were vendors in the market anymore.
Council referred the issue to the Peachland economic development committee to research the benefits of having the market, explore moving the market from Heritage Park and report back in January 2018.
Onrait-Casper said she was presenting the vendors with the facts, including links to the Aug. 8 webcasts for them to watch.
“We need them to know so they are well-informed and not caught with just hearsay,” she said.
She doesn’t consider the market, which is open four hours a week, competition for Peachland businesses.
“We bring many visitors to Peachland,” she said, noting those visitors often stop at local businesses and restaurants after they visit the market.
“When we first started, businesses didn’t open their doors at 9 a.m. on a Sunday. Now they do,” she said.
According to Onrait-Casper, the market has spent more than $25,000 in advertising to bring people to Peachland.
As for problems with vehicles blocking the intersection on Highway 97 on market day, Onrait-Casper said she was taught not to enter an intersection unless it was safe to proceed and clear that intersection.
“I don’t know how our flaggers or ourselves could be held responsible for a driver’s poor choice,” she said.
“It’s silly to make it move,” said Katie Rogers, who comes to the Peachland market every second week. “It brings so many people to downtown Peachland. People are eating at the restaurants, spending money.”
Bruce Betz, an original Peachland market vendor who sells skin and health-care products, considers the Heritage Park location of the market ideal because of the playground for kids to play on, the grass and Okanagan Lake nearby.
“People come here from all over,” he said, adding the market is an economic driver for Peachland.
Betz said the vendors promote local business, recommending restaurants and activities to those at the market.
For many locals, the Peachland market is part of a weekly routine. They come to the beach, visit the market and then stop for a bite at one of the restaurants.
“This is the thing to do on Sundays,” said Cori Reid, who comes to the market every Sunday.
“Every day of the week, you have safety issues here,” said Reid. “It’s not because of the market. It’s because people are trying to get somewhere fast in Peachland.”
While many vendors were concerned about the possible move, Alfred Collison, who sells handcrafted leather articles at the market, was not.
”It doesn't matter to me as long as there’s still a market,” he said.
Onrait-Casper has sent a letter to Peachland council asking for written confirmation by Sept. 1 of whether the farmers market could rent Heritage Park in 2018.
“January is too late,” she said, noting the board will call an extraordinary meeting with the vendors at the last market of the season Sept. 24 if Heritage Park is unavailable.