New farmers market coming to Wainfleet
People will soon be able to head to Wainfleet’s farmers market to pick up fresh vegetables and herbs, honey, maple syrup and maybe pies and jams, most of it produced by local farmers and crafters.
The township is poised to join other Niagara municipalities such as St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Niagara-on-theLake, Grimsby, Fort Erie and Lincoln that already have their own farmers market. Staff from Meridian Credit Union and the township are located a hop and a skip away from each other, and are working together on plans for the new venture.
Township chief administrative officer William Kolasa said in a new report to township politicians that Meridian approached the municipality in March with the idea of starting up a farmers market and sought the township’s support. The new market will be held Saturday mornings on a pilot basis on the Meridian property at 31885 Highway 3.
It will have its grand opening June 30 from 8 a.m. to noon. The market will run until Sept. 1.
Kolasa said Meridian has shown real leadership in spearheading the initiative.
“They’ve been incredible for offering to host it as a starting point,” he said.
The market is considered a pilot because there’s no way of knowing just yet how it will be received by potential vendors and the public, said Kolasa.
“The idea is to try it for 2018,” he said. “If we’re successful and able to get vendors in and the public out, then it’s definitely something we’d like to continue longer-term. We’re really just trying to get the ball rolling on this.”
“It’s our hope that we get a lot of interest.”
Kolasa said in his report that a farmers market in Wainfleet will have many benefits, including people eating locally produced food picked at the peak of ripeness for better flavour, freshness and nutrition, keeping dollars circulating in the community and supporting local farmers by giving them the opportunity to grow more crops, add more jobs and revitalize the community.
“The establishment of a local Wainfleet farmers market is consistent with the vision of the township to be a sustainable rural community offering an outstanding quality of life for our residents,” he said.
To align with Niagara Region’s definition of a farmers market, that it be located at a central location with the majority of vendors being farmers or producers offering their own products for sale, plans call for the Wainfleet market to have at least 51 per cent bona fide farmers, said Kolasa.
Should turnout at the market overwhelm Meridian, the market could be relocated to township property, possibly such as the arena with ample parking and amenities such as washrooms, he said.
Ald. Ted Hessels asked at the May 29 township council meeting if the market could be advertised on the digital sign outside township hall.
Kolasa said because the township is actively involved in the market, the sign can be used to advertise that the market is ongoing and that some parking is available on township property.
Thorold launched a new farmers market in its downtown Saturday.