Market turns 20
Weekly market has tripled in size since 1996, and that was something to celebrate Wednesday
Jill Walker bumped into friends at the Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market Wednesday, just as she has for the last 20 years.
“It’s a really wonderful atmosphere... it’s a good place to visit friends who you maybe don’t see on a regular basis but you see them at market,” said Walker.
Walker has been going to the downtown market since it opened 20 seasons ago.
Wednesday marked the market’s second decade in operation.
Sarah Walker, Jill’s daughter, makes sure to accompany her mom to the market whenever she’s visiting from Taiwan.
They ride their bikes over from East City, grabbing their favourite produce each week, like mushrooms.
After watching a cooking demonstration, the Walkers knew what would be filling their bags with this week.
“We had a little nibble and we went immediately and bought every ingredient because we want to make that today on the barbecue,” said Sarah.
Jill opened up her bags to show off the chevre, bacon and zucchini that was about to be devoured Wednesday night.
The ladies shop at the Saturday Farmers’ Market, too. They like that the city has two markets, so they don’t have to worry about how much they’re able to bike home with.
“On Saturday market you get what you need and then you know mid week you can stalk up again,” said Sarah.
What sets the downtown market apart though, is that it’s a producers-only market.
“So there’s nothing truck in from the depots,” said Jill.
The downtown market started on Charlotte St. in 1996, closing down the street each week from George St. to Water St.
Eight years ago, it moved to the Louis St. Parking Lot.
Jill Bishop, market manager, said the market has tripled in size over the last two decades.
It started with out 10 vendors and is now up to 33.
The city is about to revamp the market’s grounds, turing the parking lot into an urban park, complete with a skating oval, stage and space for the market. It’s expected to be finished in late 2018.
During the construction, the market will move back to Charlotte Street.
When the market returns to the newly created park, it’ll have access to water and electricity, Bishop said, giving it a more permanent look.
The market manager handed out cake Wednesday after local musician Kate Suhr performed a song for the market’s anniversary celebrations.
Bishop said organizers wanted to recognize the day and the people who’ve supported the market over the years.
“We wanted to have a celebration to thank all of our wonderful customers and vendors because we know that we wouldn’t be here without the support of our community.”