Farmers’ market bounces back from wet weather

“We’ve been pleasantly surprised,” says coordinator Mathieu Blanchard of the Saturday market that runs from June 13 to Oct. 10. “In July we had quite a few Saturdays with rain, but people still came out. We have a loyal following and people have adjusted.”

A number of new participants, rotating schedules and a few dropping out have kept numbers at an average of 30 vendors per week, he explains, with over 50 members in total.

New addition to this year’s market tableau include frozen take-away and ready-to-go curry meals courtesy of Curry Home Soon, Blanchard continues, as well as several new producers and new meat vendors selling beef and lamb. In the baked goods section, the market has also benefited from several new “Mom enterprises,” he says. “They’re doing interesting things,” Blanchard explains. “They have very different styles from what we’ve had in the past.”

Lydia Wise, owner of Curry Home Soon, explains her decision to join the east-end market came from its welcoming atmosphere, pleasant staff and ability to showcase a product new to the area. Curry Home Soon was only launched earlier this spring and serves vegetarian and chicken Indian curries, as well as appetizers, frozen or ready-to-heat, she recounts. “The vision is to make Indian curries that are served take-home family-style,” Wise says, after noticing a shortage in the marketplace for Indian food served not in individual portions or from a restaurant.

Adopting an early love of cooking from her mother – whose family originates from the Indian state of Goa – Wise explains her initial foray into the food business came through encouragement from friends and family, starting to test foods with her inner circle earlier this year.

Moving to the Cumberland market this summer was a key step, she continues, and away from relying strictly on buzz. “(Similar businesses) all do it through word-of-mouth,” Wise suggests. “I find it’s really hard to get off the ground (with only that).”

So far, she recounts, the decision to vend at the Cumberland Farmers’ Market has been an all-around positive one, with her first weekend at the east-end site “far surpassing all my expectations.” “I was shopping around, trying out other markets,” Wise explains, adding that she hopes to return next season. “The people (at the Cumberland market) are really welcoming and had nothing like me. I get to expose the area to a different type of food they’re not familiar with.”

Though vendors like Wise have seen gains from this market’s season despite wet weather, many growers and producers are also weathering the storms well, continues Blanchard. “(The impact) is variable, because people have different production techniques,” he recounts. “It did delay some crops, but for producers part of the art of growing food is adapting. It’s not disastrous.”

Some east-end producers are even expecting a good fall season because of the current spate of hot weather, Blanchard adds.

Looking back thus far, the market “has gone very well” this year, he suggests, with plans for an environmental fair hosted in partnership with the city scheduled for Sept. 19, as well as upgrading its website in the near future. “We’re happy with the results,” Blanchard explains. “It’s a good feeling to see we have a loyal following, people coming out a regular basis. The concept is being established and accepted. It’s satisfying to see.” For more information, please visit www.cumberlandfarmersmarket.ca