Peterborough Region Farmers’ Market launches June 9 in downtown Peterborough
NEWS RELEASE
Peterborough Region Farmers’ Market launches June 9 in downtown Peterborough
May 22, 2018 — Local farmers and the Peterborough Regional Farmers Network (PRFN) put out a call on May 19 for the community to rally support for a new farmers’ market.
“The community answered!” says Neil Hannam, President of the PRFN. “We had several offers of potential new locations and the whole team considered the best options. PRFN has accepted the offer from Brad Smith, President and CEO of AON Inc., to locate the new Saturday farmers’ market to the AON Citi Centre courtyard in downtown Peterborough.”
The new market will be called the Peterborough Region Farmers’ Market. PRFN has been working with third-party farmer verification processes, including My Pick Verified Local Farmer, for over a year.
“The public can arrive every Saturday and shop with confidence because local farmers will be clearly identified,” says Astrid Manske, PRFN Board member and owner of OtonaBEE Apiary.
AON Citi Centre property is located on the corner of Charlotte and Aylmer in downtown Peterborough. The site is large enough to hold a considerable number of vendors, and nearby parking is plentiful and free on Saturdays. The site has many other advantages too, including the newly renovated public library up the street, the main City bus station located with a two-minute walk and many people can walk or bike to the new location. In the future, the Citi Centre site will have the new Louis Street Urban Park on one side and the revitalized Bethune street project on the other.
“This is an exciting location for our Saturday Market. It’s a return to the market’s downtown roots,” says Brad Smith.
Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement Area, met with representatives from the PRFN following the call to the community for market support and helped pitch the idea of a Saturday downtown farmers’ market.
"Farmers markets work great in downtowns and this announcement just makes our downtown even more out of the ordinary,” says Terry Guiel, executive director of the DBIA. “Unique, community-driven attractions like this are what separates the downtown from all other parts of the city.”
“The Smith family has a long history of valuing local food and they gave a significant gift for Myrtle’s Kitchen, a commercial/teaching kitchen located at Peterborough Public Health and used by many community-based groups,” says Peter Hughes, Vice-president of PRFN. “The Peterborough Region Farmers’ Market will be working with Nourish Peterborough and Peterborough Public Health to support food security and food education. We’d also like to thank the Smith family for their support for this new market.”
“I have travelled all over North America, and the most successful and flourishing farmers’ markets are located downtown,” says Sam McLean, PRFN board member and co-owner of Mclean’s Berry Farm.
“We attend other downtown farmers’ markets and they are fantastic for customers because they are accessible, vibrant and the community building that happens within the market overflows and extends to the whole downtown,” says Julie Fleming, co-owner of Circle Organic Community Farm.
Peterborough Region Farmers’ Market will officially kick off Saturday, June 9, from 7AM to 1PM.
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Neil Hannam
Board President
Peterborough Region Farmers’ Market
www.ptboregionalfarmersmarket.org
705-761-0087
Terry Guiel
Executive Director
Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area
705-748-4774