It looks like the town has a growing concern – in a good way.
As the Erin Farmers’ Market gears up for another season, organizers were at council looking for a means to spread the good word.
On tap at the May 21 meeting were representatives of the Erin Agricultural Society Farmers’ Market, however it was Jennifer Girvin, president of the Erin Agricultural Society, who led the presentation.
She was one of several members of the group out to present their pitch to council.
“The mission of the agricultural society is … of course … to promote agriculture awareness,” Girvin said. “We’ve been doing that for 163 years through the Erin Fall Fair.”
Last year, the pilot market was quite successful, Girvin noted.
“Because of that, we decided to move forward with another market this year, and hopefully next year.”
Girvin said the eventual aim is for 80 per cent of the vendors to be farmers and 20% be artisans and crafters.
Right now, it is about 67% farmers and 33% non-farmers.
Girvin explained the reason the group aimed for a high percentage of farmer participation is, in part, due to different regulations.
She said to be considered an unregulated market, at least 50% of the vendors must be farmers. In turn, that status means someone could produce food in a non-inspected kitchen and sell it at the market.
“As soon as you get into the flea market category, then everyone is required to have kitchen inspections. The reason is they want to get farmers out there.”
One of the society’s requests was to install big signs across the municipality noting the market times. Girvin realized the town had a sign bylaw regarding event signage.
Typically the bylaw limits signs to be placed for a limited number of weeks before an event.
However, since the market runs all summer long, “we were hoping to have that extended for the entire summer.”
The market gears up on June 14 and continues until Sept. 27.
“We would then take them down as we were putting our fair signs up so there would be no overlap,” Girvin said.
Girvin also hoped the market could be allowed an improved presence on the town website, such as a button on the main page along with the market logo.
She also expressed hope that in 2014, there might be some town funds available, primarily to assist in advertising.
“We promised our vendors lots of consumer traffic, so any help we could get would be great.”
Girvin pointed out any funds generated by the market last year were reinvested into advertising.
She added the idea is to accept vendors from as close to Erin as possible.
This year, nine of the vendors are Erin farmers, three are non-farmers from outside of Erin, five are farmers from the areas surrounding Erin (from Arthur to Georgetown). The remainder make up a total of 29 vendors so far.
This year the group is doing joint advertising with farmers markets across Wellington County such as Aberfoyle, Elora, Guelph and Minto.
Councillor Josie Wintersinger said that as a patron of the Guelph market, she is aware that at least two of those vendors get their product from the Ontario Food Terminal and then claim themselves as farmers.
Wintersinger asked if there were assurances genuine farmers are taking part.
Girvin said it is within the market regulations that food cannot be brought in from the food terminal.
“There is an agreement signed to ensure they do not.” Members of the group stated every reasonable effort is made to ensure that is the case.
Wintersinger then clarified that the group wants to have their signs up for the entire summer.
Current regulations allow for signs to be installed for two weeks or a set number of days.
Brennan agreed the current sign bylaw is really oriented for one-off events.
Councillor Barb Tocher pointed out there is a process to ask council’s permission for an exception to the bylaw.
Tocher said generally it involves something in writing.
Another idea would be to have pre-written resolutions every other week to allow exemptions on a rolling basis.
It was pointed out to councillors that during the 16 weeks of the market, there will be different events each weekend.
Clerk Kathryn Ironmonger suggested this really wouldn’t set a precedent because the society was coming before council to request a variance to the sign bylaw.
“Every time a proposed variance comes before council, it is judged on its own merits.”
Tocher said with regard to potential funding for 2014, “there is an application process.”
Council agreed to authorize the placement of market signs for 16 weeks.
This year, the Erin Farmers’ Market opens on June 14.
