Representatives from the Penticton Farmers’ Market attended the March 7 city council meeting in force and, in this case, went away with their concerns answered.
The group was concerned about the effect planned changes to the 100 block of Main Street would have on the 26-year-old market.
Concerns over narrowing the road area—used by pedestrians during the Saturday markets — and lack of space for vendors to park their vehicles were attributed to a misunderstanding of aspects of the downtown revitalization design.
“The 100-block is a very useful public area right now, and it is used by all sorts of organizations, not just us,” said Moses Brown, spokesman and past president of the organization.
“We were led to believe the plan would make the road more market friendly,” said Brown, concerned there would not be room for vendors to park their trucks, which are used as storage areas for unsold produce and goods, along with reducing the pedestrian area from 6.5 metres to three metres in areas.
“During the summer months, the street is completely packed with people, that 6.5 metres is completely full,” said Brown. “It would be almost unthinkable to squeeze those people into a three-metre space.”
Mitch Moroziuk, director of operations, clarified that while the road space is narrowed in the section from Westminster to the planned link road between Main and Martin Streets, in the rest of the block, the widened pedestrian area is designed to support parking.
re is no curb there. There will have to be a few bollards removed to allow the truck to come up on the sidewalk,” said Moroziuk. “In addition, the link road will provide an opportunity for the Farmers’ Market into there.”
“I think what you are hearing is reassurance that we will work with you,” said Coun. Judy Sentes. “We appreciate it (the farmers’ market) and value it. We wouldn’t do anything to harm it. I think there has been a misunderstanding.”
The Penticton Farmers’ Market was also named Market of the Year by the B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets earlier this month.
The award, handed out March 5 at the BCAFM annual conference in Kelowna, recognized the Penticton market in the medium-sized market category.
“The Penticton Farmers’ Market Society is honoured to receive this award,” said market manager Erin Trainer. “Over the last 25 years, the society has worked hard to maintain a quality market that stays true to our values. The market has been able to provide a venue where small-scale farmers can sell directly to the public, creating a sustainable local economy and contributing to food security in the Okanagan.”
This year, the Farmers’ Market is hoping to open two weeks earlier on Saturday, April 23, and is working with the city to finalize road closure permits.
“Our vendors are eager to start in April and have produce ready to sell,” said Trainer. “Many farmers’ markets in B.C. operate year round, so this is an opportunity to find out if that’s something our customers are looking for as well.”
Earlier this month the market’s organizing society elected Justene Wright as its new president. Wright is the owner of Food of the Sun. Corey Brown, owner of Blackbird Organics, was re-elected as vice-president. The Penticton Farmers’ Market is entering its 26th season and has approximately 45 members in its society, along with 30 casual vendors and 30 rotating liquor vendors.
Typically the market hosts 60 to 80 vendors per week. It is open every Saturday until Oct. 29 from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the 100 Block of Main Street.