East-end farmers market getting a raw deal
Farmers deserve the chance to sell their local food to Hamiltonians who appreciate it
Who remembers the farmers market when it was at the Centre Mall on Barton Street? It started there about 60 years ago and for 50 years it was a going concern, all three days they were open.
I remember going to the market on Saturdays with my mom and brothers, it was always an exciting treat. It was a very busy and bustling place to be with farmers from around the area selling what they grew. Then about 10 years ago the management of the Centre Mall decided to revamp the mall to what we have now. In doing so, the farmers market had to move.
Those who love shopping there followed our market to Ottawa Street, where the BIA welcomed the market with open arms. At first the market was a great success, then something changed and the BIA seems to have a great distaste of the market.
The market was forced to go from three days a week down to one day all the while paying the same rent they paid for three days.
I have talked to many of the vendors and everyone is upset with the treatment by the BIA which many feel is trying to get rid of the market. When the first lockdown happened, the market was shut down. According to a bylaw officer it was considered too dangerous for shoppers, even though the vendors are spread apart. I was talking to one farmer who reported the market helps the farmers with their incomes.
So I wondered out loud about the market at Jackson Square, and the bylaw officer told me that yes that market is open. But that one is inside and vendors are close together. How could that one be safer for shoppers?
I went to Jackson Square, and found few were staying six feet apart, few vendors had masks on, no shoppers I saw had masks on. The market was its usual busy, crowded self.
I did some research and talked to the management office for the Centre Mall and asked why couldn’t the east end market move to the mall? There is lots of room in the parking areas and everyone knows that farmers bring in people.
I was so shocked to learn that Metro objected to the farmers market being there. It seems that these large grocery stores who have stores all over are afraid of losing money to these small farmers.
I never realized that farmers were such a threat to stores like Metro and Fortinos.
It seems that when leases were signed, it was stipulated that no farmers market could be at the Centre Mall, or Limeridge Mall for the same reason.
These farmers are a threat to large multiple stores like Metro and Fortino’s, which I do not understand. No mall is allowed to have a farmers market within a certain area. It really boggles the mind that this is allowed. What happen to free enterprise? Where do these large grocery stores get their fruit and vegetables?
At some point the fresh fruit and vegetables they sell come from farmers, the folks who grow it.
I for one am not happy with the way the farmers at the Ottawa Street Farmers Market have been treated and would love to see them given the opportunity to sell their products to the people who support them. I have bought my apples and cider from Fletcher’s for as long as I can remember. I have been buying my honey at the best taste and price ever from Warner’s at the same farmers market.
My fear is that soon the much-needed market will close down.
The BIA says they need the parking lot for stores, but I for one have never seen the parking lot full unless it is Saturday, the only day open for the farmers, then it is packed.
I wish there was something I could do to help these wonderful people at the market. Not just farmers but bakers, craftspeople and so many others.