The Royal City Farmers' Market is teaming up with River Market to bring farmers' market goodness to the Quay.
The markets have just announced a new partnership that will see the Royal City Farmers' Market move its winter market - which runs from November to April - to the River Market.
"It's so exciting!" Jen Arbo, operations manager for the Royal City Farmers' Market, can't keep her excitement from bubbling over the phone line. "We're so thrilled. We've been working on this for a little while."
She notes the partnership is one that makes sense, since the Royal City Farmers' Market's mission to bring fresh, local food to people year-round is right in line with River Market's own "Food 360" concept - which River Market bills as "celebrating the full circle of food."
The farmers' market is currently in its summer season, which sees its array of vendors out in Tipperary Park every Thursday until Oct. 6.
For the past two years it has also held winter markets at the Holy Trinity Cathedral hall downtown.
But Arbo notes that, much as they enjoyed working with the cathedral, it was becoming a challenge because the hall space simply wasn't big enough. With a maximum of 24 vendors, she noted, the market simply didn't have the capacity to make enough money to cover its costs.
"The problem was, the market was becoming unsustainable," she says.
The move to River Market means the market will be able to encompass 40 to 45 vendors, which means it will be able to bring in more money without increasing vendor fees.
Vendor stalls will be set up all around the market - both up and downstairs, and even outside, at both ends of the River Market and on its plaza overlooking the river.
Some vendors specifically want outdoor space, Arbo notes, and this gives the farmers' market the chance to make that happen.
The winter markets will take place on the first Saturday of each month from November to April, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
And, like the existing market, visitors will be able to take in a variety of food and craft vendors, as well as enjoying entertainment.
Arbo admits there's a lot of work ahead to make it all come together - getting vendor applications put together so she can start attracting high-quality vendors to the market is a first step - but she says there's nothing but good ahead for both markets.
"It's news that I think only spells good things for River Market, as well as for residents of the city," she says.
For more on River Market, check out www.rivermarket.ca
For more on the Royal City Farmers' Market, check out www.rcfm.ca.
