The ribbon was cut to officially open the 4th Annual Meaford Municipal Farmers' Market by Meaford Mayor Francis Richardson, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch, and Stephen Vance, Market Association President and Market Manager on Friday June 4 at the Meaford Rotary Harbour Pavilion.
“I'd like to welcome all of the vendors back again, and a special welcome to the new ones that we have,” said Mayor Richardson before the ribbon was cut, “I'd like to welcome all of you people back for the first day of the fourth year of this market.”
There was a warm community vibe at the Farmers' Market that even saw MPP Murdoch helping a vendor unload his van during the market setup, and a birthday cake was presented to Vance from “the Gang” of returning vendors.
Shane Jolley, former Green Party candidate for the riding, was amongst other notable community leaders to make an appearance at the Market.
During the grand opening statements made by Mayor Richardson and MPP Murdoch, Murdoch cracked a joke about leaving Bognor, “the capital of Meaford” and home of the newest and best bridge in the municipality, to come to the Market.
“This is great having these markets in our area,” offered MPP Bill Murdoch, “It shows that rural Ontario is still alive even though the government doesn't want us to be.”
Prior to the opening ceremony Murdoch told The Independent that he thinks that farmers' markets are growing in importance especially to rural communities.
“It shows that people want to buy locally, and that's what it is all about,” offered Murdoch, “It's Canadian, and it's rural Ontario, and that is what I believe in- Rural Ontario.”
The Farmer’s Market which will be open every Friday afternoon until October 8, features vendors from Meaford as well as local areas such as Berkeley, Woodford and Thornbury.
This year's edition of the Meaford Farmers' Market features a number of new vendors and a wide variety of goods were being sold including: fresh produce, pottery, flowers, baked goods, coffee, body lotions made from locally grown fresh herbs.
Willemina and Carolynn Loopstra, from Meaford, were selling handmade pottery at their booth called “Potter and Daughter”. They make jewelry and mugs, tea pots and loose leaf strainers. Carolynn picks water mint, wood strawberry, mullein, clover and sweet goldenrod then dries the leaves in a solar dehydrator. The leaves can be bought in addition to a strainer to make delicious tea.
Among the new vendors for 2010 were local shops like the 100 Mile Market and the Earth Harvest Café who brought their goods to the market on Friday.
Shane Jolley who spent much of the late afternoon browsing the market and talking to vendors told The Independent that farmers' markets are critical to the future of Ontario communities.
“Farmers' markets are absolutely critical right now and going forward because of the increasingly brittle nature of our food system,” said Jolley, “Farmers' markets rather than being a fringe thing, need to become a staple in our lives again in every community to ensure that we have food security and good local food.”
In addition to a cornucopia of local food, the market day kicked off with a special play and music performed by students from Ecole St. Vincent Euprhaia Elementary School, and a kids arts and crafts station was set up to keep little shoppers happy.
Many special events are in the works for the farmers' market this season. Stay tuned to The Meaford Independent for details.
*With files from Stephen Vance.
