MINTO – A June 5 opening is planned for the Minto Farmers’ Market.
“Our goal and our hope is that we will be opening our farmers market on June 5,” economic and business manager Belinda Wick-Graham told Minto council on April 20.
Wick-Graham noted the outdoor market, normally held on the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum grounds, will move to the pavilion at the Palmerston Lions Heritage Park for the month of June to accommodate plans to paint the Palmerston water tower, which is beside the museum.
She also said there will be a slight increase in vendors’ fees this year – the first increase in the 11 years the market has operated in Palmerston.
“It’s very affordable. We’re still one of the cheapest markets in the county,” Wick-Graham noted.
She also pointed out plans are being made to work with Wellington County’s economic development department on online ordering options and cross-promotions among farmers’ markets throughout the county.
Deputy mayor David Turton asked if there has been “any discussion at all about re-establishing Harriston or Clifford farmers markets?”
Wick-Graham responded that at recent Clifford Connects and Clifford Rotary Club meetings there has been discussion on design concepts for Clifford Rotary Celebration Square, located in the village’s downtown, with the aim of making the square “vendor friendly .”
“Whether that’s an artisan market, makers market, farmers’ market or combination, there is interest in Clifford for doing that,” she explained.
Wick Graham said even if the province is still under a stay-at-home order due to COVID-19 pandemic, the market can be opened on schedule as “we have all the COVID precautions in place.
“The only difference is we’d only be able to have our food vendors,” she noted.
