CORNWALL, Ontario – If you enjoy fresh summer vegetables produced from local farms the good news is you only have a few more days to wait before they go on sale.
The bad news is there’s only going to be one market operating in Cornwall this summer.
The Seaway Valley Grower’s Market, which operates in The Brick parking lot on Pitt Street, will open for the season June 1.
But the Cornwall Farmer’s Market, which operated for the past few years on George Assaly Lane downtown, has decided to pack it in. A combination of slow customer traffic and other vendor commitments led to the decision.
There have also been some hiccups for the Seaway Valley Grower’s Market. Long-time organizer Marc Brunet is recovering from surgery, so the reins have fallen to other vendors to handle much of the grunt work in preparation for the looming season.
Dave Phillips, owner of the Avonmore Berry Farm and a vendor at the market for nearly 24 years, said a few new vendors plan to sell their wares this year.
“There’s probably going to be some new specialty meat vendors this year,” he said. “Bison…and perhaps lamb and rabbit.”
The market will run every Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon, wrapping up on the Thanksgiving long weekend in October.
Phillips said attraction of a farmer’s market is a strong one for both vendors and patrons.
“The quality is 100 per cent,” he said. “It’s good for customers to be able to find quality products that are produced locally.”
The season is likely to begin with lots of lettuce, onions and asparagus, not to mention preserves and some baked goods. As the season progresses tomatoes, peas, carrots and corn will be available.
Indications are the Lancaster Farmer’s Market, which operated last year in the parking lot at the Glengarry Cheesemaking and Dairy Supply office on Highway 34, will not be operating either.
