Garment District market project seeks authentic farmers for June opening

By Kimberly Spice —

West Downtown residents came out to show their support for a new farmer’s market proposed for the Maud St. location (shown below). The area had lost a vegetarian grocery in recent years.

The St. Andrew’s Farmer’s Market is ready to set up shop on Maud St. this June—but only if enough “real farmers” can be secured to sell their popular fresh produce.

About 40 area residents applauded farmers who attended a community information meeting at the Factory Theatre on April 14, hoping they will be able to find a place for the St. Andrew’s Market on their busy summer schedule.

Farmers who grow and sell their own produce are as coveted as prime Downtown parking spots, said Bob Chorney, executive director of Farmer’s Market’s Ontario (FMO), adding that the competition to get commitments from them is fierce.

Without the support of the farmers, Chorney cautioned, the market may not get off the ground.

“There is a big demand for farmers to come to market and it’s a major, major undertaking on our part to find farmers to come to these markets,” he told the audience.

“If we are going to do a market for you folks that will be our biggest challenge, quite frankly: it will be to find farmers.”

Farmers in the Toronto area have little room to expand their market presence and Chorney is adamant that only authentic farmers participate in any MyMarket initiative.

“A few years ago we came to the realisation that several of these markets, particularly in the GTA, had been infiltrated by hucksters, peddlers and resellers,” said Chorney. “People who don’t grow anything, who go to the food terminal, buy product, come to the farmer’s market, and sell to unsuspecting shoppers who think they are dealing with a farmer.”

He continued, “I’m not going to tell you where in the city but it occurs pretty blatantly in a couple of the bigger markets on the edges of the city.”

MyMarket runs a tighter ship, he confirms. “We have an inspector that goes on the farm. The farmer would provide us with a crop production plan. We verify it, and that person comes and sells at market as a verified farmer.”

Chorney will now have the task of approaching farmers throughout the region in the hope of persuading them to participate. The residents did their part, welcoming two farmers—who stood and vowed to sell their produce at the market—to the neighborhood with a loud ovation.

It was just the response Colin Mooers, acting director of the Garment District Residents Association (GDRA) was hoping for as he works to sway farmers to take part in the St. Andrew’s Market.

Despite growing support, including a number of people who have volunteered to help the GDRA in their endeavour, the new market is not yet a done deal.

“[Chorney] came down to look at the site in early January and meet with us,” Mooers confirms. “It was just one step after the other. [FMO’s] condition was that if we could show them that there is community support, if we can build a decent public meeting, then that will show them it’s doable. That’s the stage we are at right now.”

For more information on MyMarket visit www.farmersmarketsontario.com or the Facebook group “St. Andrew’s Farmer’s Market.”