Farmers market started up for another season on June 6

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Efforts are still ongoing to establish a permanent structure for a farmers market in Yarmouth. But in the meantime the public won’t have to worry about going without a market.

As has been the case over the past few summers, a farmers market will once again be operating in the parking lot of Canadian Tire on Starrs Road. The red tent people will remember from last year is being erected for another season, with an opening date of June 6 for the market.

The market will operate on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is also talk of operating on Thursday nights, once vegetables become more plentiful.

Local farmer Kevin Hamilton – who operates Thousand Hills Farm in South Ohio and specializes in free-range poultry, while also offering beef and pork – says although still a temporary structure, the farmers market has proven to be a good venture for the local agriculture industry and the public. “It’s growing all the time, we get more vendors all of the time…The benefits to me, as a farmer, is I have an avenue to sell my product to the public,” Hamilton says, pointing out he can sell $400 or $500 worth chicken in one morning. “The benefits to the public is they have good product offered to them at a decent price, and you’re supporting local business.”

The market offers a variety of product, including such things as meat, chicken, vegetables, baked goods, homemade breads, jams and jellies and other items.

Meanwhile, Hamilton says while the temporary location has worked out well for local farmers, it’s still no replacement for a permanent structure. The Municipality of Yarmouth has offered space on the Mariners Centre property for the construction of a farmers market, but that offer only exists for two years. Efforts continue on the part of the local farming industry to secure funding so the project can move forward.