It’s time for one united farmers market in Peterborough

With another season begun, the saga of the Peterborough farmers markets has continued. Once again it has delved into another level of reality TV-style drama comparable to those seen on TLC and MTV.

The issues over the past couple of years, much of it stemming from the CBC’s “Marketplace” feature on resellers at farmers markets in 2017, has led to our small city having not one or two but rather four separate farmers markets. We have the Peterborough Downtown Farmers Market at the Peterborough Square courtyard open on Wednesdays and the Peterborough Regional Farmers Market at the Citi Centre courtyard on Saturdays. Both of those operate under the Peterborough Regional Farmers Network.

Then there is the Peterborough District Farmers Market Association (PDFMA) which has operated Saturdays in Morrow Park market since 1984.

All the board members of PDFMA have resigned in order to start another market at the former Canadian Malt property, owned and currently under development by David McGee.

PDFMA is still operational with a new board in place now. They will continue to operate on a one-year special events permit at Morrow Park once the city allows public facilities to resume use.

A lot of the drama has occurred behind closed doors leaving many people confused and frustrated. Longtime patrons of the Saturday market at Morrow Park advocated for a boycott of the market entirely. The false advertisement running rampant highlighted in the “Marketplace” piece and the shadiness of the evictions that took place following left a sour taste in the mouths of consumers.

Farmers markets, for me, offer a massive sense of community. Of buying from and supporting our neighbours, buying local, fresh from the farm food and eating healthy. Yet there has been this tiresome dark cloud surrounding the local farmers markets.

If I am going to make the effort to eat healthy, buy local and be as environmentally conscious as possible, I want to know the ethics of those I’m purchasing from and where the food is coming from. Otherwise, I might as well just shop at a big box store. At least their products are labelled so I know where they came from.

Having so many markets to choose from can be good for consumers in a way. We can choose who we wish to support and who we don’t, allowing the consumers decide the fate of the suppliers. What I feel would be best is for all of those involved in the different markets to set all the egos, history and drama aside as a means to unite the markets into one massive feature. Can you imagine how glorious the market would be, together at one location?

Morrow Park continues to be one of the city’s most underutilized spaces.

Lindsay clearly recognized the value of its exhibition grounds having built a massive location years ago. Morrow Park on the other hand, has continued to decay with outdated buildings, the grandstand being torn out and events dwindling.

Meanwhile the Lindsay Exhibition grounds has thrived. It will even be hosting the 2022 global equine event with riders from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa participating.

One united farmers market and a reenvisioned exhibition grounds could put Peterborough back on the map when it comes to supporting local agriculture. Morrow Park could prove to be quite profitable for the city. Of course, we would rather invest in more costly urban beautification projects downtown. Sadly, Morrow Park reaching its potential is a pipe dream in a time where people lack vision and will power.