Village Squire, 1978-07, Page 5Get it
while
it's fresh
Farmers' Markets are
an old way of shopping
that's becoming
a new fashion
In recent years Canadians have been rediscovering one of the
oldest traditions of mankind: the market.
The last century has seen us come more and more to depend on
the middle man. the professional merchant. For the producer, it
means freedom from worry about the business of selling. For the
consumer, it means convenience in packaging, the confidence of
dealing with familiar names like Loblaws, IGA or Dominion.
But recently many people have decided something was missing in
the relationship. Some felt the middlemen were driving up prices.
Some yearned for the freshness of getting food right from the
producer. Some longed for the day when they could haggle over the
cost of their potatoes with the man who produced them.
Thus the farmers' market has come back into its own in recent
years. Most famous of the farmers' markets of course is the
Kitchener market which has the added appeal of the Amish
community which uses the market to sell many of the homecrafts as
well as farm produce. It's made the market, one of Kitchener's most
famous attractions. next to Octoberfest.
In Toronto a Saturday morning visit to the old St. Lawrence
Market can get you some cracked ribs. trying to squeeze through
the crowds. The market was forgotten by the average Torontonian
for many years until the trend was reversed. led in good part by the
ethnic community who add a great deal of colour to the Saturday
morning market trip.
There are other. less widely publicized markets in the area and
one is sure to be close to you.
If you're in the London area, you live near the largest of the
markets. the Covent Garden Market at 130 King Street. The market
is indoors and operates year round, six days a week. There are many
permanent vendors there with well constructed stalls. There are
refrigerated showcases for meats and other perishables. There's a
profusion of flowers and mountains of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Cheese is stacked in several places.
Of the area markets Covent Gardens provides the best source of
supply for ethnic foods whether Chinese. Greek. Italian or Syrian.
Farmers' Markets are blooming in Western Ontario. The Stratford Market is one of the most
successful.
4
VILLAGE SQUIRE/JULY 1978. PG. 3.