Stephen Vance, Editor
The Meaford Farmers’ Market kicks off its 10th season on Friday, June 3 at the Rotary Harbour Pavilion, and this little market has come a long way over the past decade.
It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for farmers’ markets, and particularly our market here in Meaford. Though I’m not a farmer, nor a food producer, I was quite involved with the Meaford Farmers’ Market for a number of years, first as a sponsor of children’s activities at the market, and then serving both as a board member including a term as president, and as market manager for a few years, and I can tell you from my personal experience that a decade of hosting a farmers’ market doesn’t happen by accident: it takes a lot of hard work by some dedicated volunteers.
As far as community initiatives go, Meaford’s farmers’ market is a genuine success story. It’s no simple task to get a farmers’ market off the ground, but what started as a quaint little market has blossomed into a festive, bustling Friday afternoon event at Meaford’s beautiful harbour throughout the summer months.
In the early years market patrons might have found 15 or 20 vendors at the farmers’ market, but as the popularity of the Meaford Farmers’ Market has grown, so too have the number of vendors. Market organizers announced last month that more than 40 vendors will be part of the market this year, and while much of the focus of a farmers’ market is rightly directed at the locally grown produce and locally raised meat products that are available, Meaford has managed to attract a wide range of vendors as well as local artisans who showcase their products on Friday afternoons.
Market organizers say that among the vendors this year there will be stoneware, handmade soaps and candles, local VQA wines, knitting, teddy bears, artwork, preserves, baking, breads, fresh pasta and sauces, chocolates, honey, eggs, ready-to-eat foods such as salads, soups, and stews, plants, flowers, and much more. Again this year the market will have fresh fish as well as locally-raised lamb, pork, and other meats. Among the new vendors this year is a local farmer with 12 varieties of garlic, as well as many garlic-related products.
My favourite thing about Meaford’s farmers’ market is that while it is a fantastic place to shop for local food, most often Friday afternoons at the harbour feel like more of a party than a retail establishment. Live music featuring local musicians, a story-time tent for the youngsters, numerous special guests and exhibits, along with some fantastic ready-to-eat food vendors creates a festive atmosphere that you might not expect from a farmers’ market. Of course, Meaford’s market benefits from location, location, location, with its harbour views, proximity to downtown, and plenty of room for parking.
There is also something comforting about talking to the person that planted and harvested the tomatoes you purchased, or to know the name of the farmer that raised the lamb that you can’t wait to serve to weekend guests. The more we know about our food-producing neighbours, the more we can appreciate what it takes to get our food from the field to the table, and the more local food producers know their customers, the better they are able to serve them.
While farmers’ markets in larger urban centres are typically served by farmers and food producers from neighbouring rural farming areas, when we attend our market here in Meaford, the most of the vendors are our neighbours and friends, and who better to trust with producing the food that lands on your dinner table than friends and neighbours?
Beginning today at 3 pm at the Rotary Harbour Pavilion, our favourite market vendors return, and there will be plenty of new vendors to discover. Consider becoming part of the weekly party that is the Meaford Farmers’ Market. Just like The Meaford Independent, Meaford’s farmers’ market is truly local, truly independent, and community is what they are all about.
