Minto Farmers’ Market is gearing up for a busy summer. The plan is to build on last year’s many successes.
Belinda Wick-Graham reported to council on Feb. 17 on highlights of the market’s first year of operation, and plans for the coming season (opening is Friday, June 4, 3-7 p.m.).
“It was a long time coming,” said Wick-Graham, explaining the need for such a market was identified in 2005. Planning began in 2007, and those plans came to fruition on June 5, 2009, in Clifford.
Wick-Graham gave a special thank you to Wesley Bates and Juanita Wilkins, who not only provided the site for the market, but stepped up and invested extra labour and money to ensure the fence at the front of the market was attractive. “They were  constantly out there working with us,” said Wick-Graham.
The market averaged 10-11 vendors throughout the season, and attracted 100-plus shoppers. The market’s special events – the strawberry social, corn roast and the “Zucchini 500” – added to everyone’s enjoyment of the market, as did the good selection of products available that included plenty of baking, crafts, plants, vegetables, smoked trout and herbs.
Wick-Graham said the market was successful on many levels. “Most people agreed it brought people to Clifford’s downtown,” she said. “One reason we held it there was to benefit downtown.”
The market provided fundraising opportunities for several groups, including the Clifford Downtown Revitalization Committee, Clifford Historical Society, Clifford Horticultural Society, Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, and Minto Chamber of Commerce.
It gave Minto vendors an opportunity to explore new markets. She noted that at the Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock, Harriston Bakery sold out.
The market also served as a business incubator. Juanita Wilkins’ gluten-free baking proved to be so popular, she’s going ahead with a business plan. Wick-Graham said Wilkins recently shipped $300 worth of her gluten-free baked goods to Toronto.
Deputy Mayor Judy Dirksen, president of the Minto Farmers’ Market board of directors, also spoke of the success of the market, giving much of the credit to Wick-Graham.
One of the highlights of the market for Dirksen was the camaraderie that developed among the vendors. “They helped each other set up,” she said.
Wick-Graham made note of a grant application that has been made to OMIF (Ontario Market Investment Funding).
Dirksen explained the market doesn’t have much money for promotion, and an OMIF grant would certainly help out with that.
Plans for this year’s market include more of the same. Wick-Graham said a couple of new vendors have come aboard, and there will be more special events. Under discussion is the possibility of planning some extra market days in Palmerston (in addition to the Friday afternoons in Clifford).
The annual general meeting of the Minto Farmers’ Market Association was held on Feb. 8 in Clifford.
Among the highlights presented in Dirksen’s president’s report was the fact the market generated $19,380 in sales in 2009, and a large majority of Clifford downtown businesses felt the market benefited the downtown.
The board of directors for the coming year are: president – Judy Dirksen; vice-president – Juanita Wilkins; secretary – Belinda Wick-Graham; treasurer – Kamma Thompson; directors – Wesley Bates, Krista Fisk, Pat Tyson, Rob Unsworth, and Jake Tyson.