The Rural Voice, 1983-06, Page 24Marketing produce
At Martin's Market you can select product brought in by other
gardeners.
by Rhea Hamilton
Gardens mean work and for those of us
who haven't the time or the inclination to
spend a few hours each week tending a
vegetable patch there are still ways to get
fresh produce for the freezer.
Through the labours of many others
you can go out and pick your own farm
fresh fruits and vegetables for eating now
or freezing later.
At Martin's, 11/2 miles east of Goderich
on Highway #8, you can pick some
vegetables or select from produce
brought in by other local gardeners.
Martin and EIIy Van Den Berg are
looking at their third season in the
produce business and every year they
plan a few more ideas to draw customers
into their bright attractive roadside stand
to buy fresh Huron county maple syrup,
farm fresh eggs (which they supply from
their small flock), and a variety of fresh
fruits and vegetables according to the
season.
Van Den Berg plants two acres of peas,
beans, and cucumbers for picking by
customers and selling in their stand. The
latest project is renovating one of the
farm buildings Into an insulated, cool
storage area to keep produce that must
be kept for a few days.
The Van Den Bergs also keep their eyes
open for handling new business with
local gardeners who produce more than
they need. The price and the quality have
to be up to the high standards the Van
Den Bergs maintain.
It all started back a few years ago when
the family bought a dairy operation, but it
was a bit more than they could manage.
Being interested in marketing the Van
Den Bergs sold their farm and bought
another, located a few miles down the
highway and set up their produce stand.
According to Van Den Berg, what started
out as less work than the dairy operation
has blossomed into a much more
involved enterprise which is growing by
leaps and bounds.
This year, Martin's Market is offering a
line of hardy trees and shrubs as well as
seeds and potatoes. This allows the
market to open earlier in the season
before the fresh vegetables start arriving
from local gardens and their own garden
is ready for harvesting.
Besides the gardening and local pro-
duce Martin's Market also sells hothouse
tomatoes and a few other vegetables. It
has become a number one headache to
keep a constant supply available. Being
PG. 22 THE RURAL VOICE, JUNE 1983
Martin Van Den Berg